Gaius Julius Caesar

Gaius Julius Caesar, who would become the first Emperor of Rome, was born on 13 July, 100 B.C.E. He was born at a chaotic time in Roman history, brought about largely by the rapid expansion of the Roman Empire. The first 20 years of CaesarЃfs life were typified by rivalries between the Senate and the Assembly. The electoral system in Rome was also corrupt.

When Consul Sulla returned to Rome in 83 B.C.E. after fighting abroad, he began a campaign to get rid of his enemies. Several thousand senators and other officials were murdered. Sulla then had the Senate declare him dictator for life. Caesar, now in his early twenties, had married the daughter of one of SullaЃfs enemies and the dictator demanded that he divorce her. Caesar, however, refused to do so, showing the headstrong nature that would chart his future course. Perhaps to escape the wrath of Sulla, Caesar joined the staff of Minurius Thermas, the Praetor in Bithynia in 81 B.C.E.

When the death of Sulla was announced in 78, Caesar returned to Rome. For several years he honed his skills as a lawyer. Then, in 75, he studied under Appollonius Molon in Rhodes. On his way to Rhodes he was captured by pirates, staying with them for six weeks. While with them he vowed to return and crucify them. On his release he did exactly that.

On returning to Rome in 69, he was elected to his first office, that of Quaestor. In 68, he joined the staff of the Praetor of Further Spain. Back in Rome the following year, Caesar caught the attention of Crassus, a rich and powerful former Praetor. When in 66 Caesar was made Aedile to CrassusЃf Censor, Caesar threw magnificent games for the masses, financed by Crassus. This made Caesar hugely popular with the people.

Caesar became Praetor in 62. He was made Propraetor of Further Spain at the end of his Praetorship. This was his first independent military command and he was soon subjugating the local tribes of Lusitania. After returning to Rome to secure a consulship he was rejected for that position by the Senate. He did however secure the Governorship of the Province of Gaul. Soon thereafter he learned that a Swiss tribe was about to invade Gaul. He set off to defend his new territory.

Caesar engaged and soundly defeated the invading Helvetii army. He then turned his attention to the Germans, achieving a stunning victory along the banks of the Rhine. Next he turned his forces north where the Belgae, a part Germanic tribe, were proving rebellious. After a tense standoff the Belgae withdrew and were pursued and routed by CaesarЃfs army.

Caesar then returned to Italy. He was given the unprecedented honour of a fifteen day thanksgiving. He spent the next few years putting down rebellions and extending the corners of the Roman Empire. In 54, he set out with 800 ships for Britain. The leader of the Britons, Cassivellaunus engaged the Romans