Gaius Julius Caesar was born 3 days before the Ides of July or July 13 in (probably) 100 B.C. (possibly 102). Julius' father's family was from the patrician
gens of the Julii which traced its lineage to the first king of Rome, Romulus, and the goddess
Venus or to Aeneas' son Ascanius, also known as Iulus or Jullus; whence Julius. One patrician branch of the Julian gens was called Caesar. [See
Surnames of the Julii from UNRV.] Julius' parents were Gaius Caesar and Aurelia, daughter of Lucius Aurelius Cotta. Julius was related by marriage to
Marius who supported the
populares and opposed
Sulla who supported the
optimates.
The young Julius went to Rhodes to study oratory, but on his way he was captured by
pirates whom he charmed and seemingly befriended. After he was freed, Julius arranged to have the pirates executed.
Julius entered the course of advancement (
cursus honorum) in the Roman political system as
quaestor in 68 or 69 B.C.
In 65 B.C., Julius Caesar became curule aedile and then managed to be made pontifex maximus, contrary to convention, since he was so young.
Julius Caesar became praetor for 62 B.C. and during that year divorced his second wife for not being above suspicion, in the Bona Dea scandal involving Claudius/Clodius Pulcher.
Julius Caesar won one of the consulships in 59 B.C. The chief advantage to this was that following the term in office, he would become governor of a lucrative province. After his term, he was sent to Gaul as the prosconsul.
Julius Caesar himself was guilty of many extra-marital affairs, -- with Cleopatra, among others. One of the most significant relations was with Servilia Caepionis, the half-sister of
Cato the Younger. Because of this relationship, it was thought possible that Brutus was Julius Caesar's son.
Julius Caesar was taunted all his life with charges of having been the lover of King Nicomedes of Bithynia.
Julius Caesar married Cornelia, a daughter of Marius' associate, Lucius Cornelius Cinna, then a relative of Pompey named Pompeia, and finally, Calpurnia.
Julius Caesar engineered a 3-way division of power with enemies Crassus and Pompey that was known as the Triumvirate.
Second-year Latin students are familiar with the military side of Julius Caesar's life. As well as conquering the Gallic tribes, he wrote about the Gallic Wars in clear, elegant prose, referring to himself in the third person. It was through his campaigns that Julius Caesar was finally able to work his way out of debt, although the third member of the triumvirate, Crassus, also helped.
Caesar's Gallic Wars Commentaries
Caesar's Civil Wars Commentaries
Julius Caesar refused to obey the command of the Senate, but instead led his troops across the Rubicon river, which started civil war.
- Ides of March and Assassination
Julius Caesar was the Roman dictator with divine honors, but he didn't have a crown. In 44 B.C. conspirators, claiming they feared Julius Caesar was aiming to become king, assassinated Julius Caesar on the Ides of March.
Although Julius Caesar had a living son, Caesarion (not officially acknowledged), he was an Egyptian, the son of Queen Cleopatra, so Julius Caesar adopted a great nephew, Octavian, in his will. Octavian was to become the first Roman emperor, Augustus.
Caesar was known to be careful or abstemious in his consumption of wine and was said to have been particular in his hygiene, including having himself depilitated. I don't have a source for this.
