Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar was a Roman politician, general and writer in the last years of the Roman Republic. He was born on the 13th day of the month then called Quintilis. Later the month was renamed July.[1] (All dates in this article are BC.)
Early career
In 63 Caesar won the election to become pontifex maximus, Rome's chief priest, defeating Catulus. He was praetor, a senior official, in 62.[2] He played a key part in forming an alliance with Pompey and Crassus, known as the "First Triumvirate", or rule of three men.[3] In 56 he met Crassus at Ravenna and then Pompey at Luca, though ancient writers disagree about who attended.[4]
Gaul and the Rubicon
Caesar led Roman campaigns in Gaul from 58 to 52.[5] His account of them describes a revolt led by Vercingetorix.[6] On the night of 10–11 January 49 he crossed the River Rubicon, the frontier of Italy, with the Thirteenth Legion.[7] In 48, after news of the battle of Pharsalus, he was made dictator for a year, with Mark Antony as his deputy.[8] In June 47 Cleopatra gave birth to their son, Caesarion.[8]
In power
Caesar was consul for the third time in 46.[9] He celebrated four triumphs, or victory parades, over Gaul, Egypt, Pontus and Africa.[9] He began building a new forum in Rome, the Forum of Julius, with a Temple of Venus Genetrix.[9] Coins described him as dictator for life (dict perpetuo).[10]
He also reformed the calendar, with help from Sosigenes, an astronomer from Alexandria. The new calendar began on 1 April 45.[11] It had 365 days, with an extra day added every fourth year.[11]
Writings
Caesar wrote seven books about his wars in Gaul. He called them Commentarii, meaning notebooks.[5][5] He also wrote three books on the civil war. An eighth book about Gaul was added by Hirtius.[5]
See also
References
- ↑ Dillon, Matthew; Garland, Lynda (2021). The Ancient Romans: History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of Augustus. Routledge. p. 572. ISBN 9780415741521.
- ↑ Dillon, Matthew; Garland, Lynda (2021). The Ancient Romans: History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of Augustus. Routledge. pp. 497, 503. ISBN 9780415741521.
- ↑ Dillon, Matthew; Garland, Lynda (2021). The Ancient Romans: History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of Augustus. Routledge. p. 510. ISBN 9780415741521.
- ↑ Dillon, Matthew; Garland, Lynda (2021). The Ancient Romans: History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of Augustus. Routledge. p. 529. ISBN 9780415741521.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Dillon, Matthew; Garland, Lynda (2021). The Ancient Romans: History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of Augustus. Routledge. p. 583. ISBN 9780415741521.
- ↑ Dillon, Matthew; Garland, Lynda (2021). The Ancient Romans: History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of Augustus. Routledge. p. 540. ISBN 9780415741521.
- ↑ Dillon, Matthew; Garland, Lynda (2021). The Ancient Romans: History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of Augustus. Routledge. p. 556. ISBN 9780415741521.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Dillon, Matthew; Garland, Lynda (2021). The Ancient Romans: History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of Augustus. Routledge. p. 566. ISBN 9780415741521.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Dillon, Matthew; Garland, Lynda (2021). The Ancient Romans: History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of Augustus. Routledge. p. 569. ISBN 9780415741521.
- ↑ Dillon, Matthew; Garland, Lynda (2021). The Ancient Romans: History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of Augustus. Routledge. p. 580. ISBN 9780415741521.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Dillon, Matthew; Garland, Lynda (2021). The Ancient Romans: History and Society from the Early Republic to the Death of Augustus. Routledge. p. 576. ISBN 9780415741521.