Julius Caesar 100? — 44 B.C.. Gaius was his given name, one of only eight names which could be given to boys. Julius was the family name. The name of.

Julius Caesar100? — 44 B.C.

Gaius was his given name, one

of only eight names which

could be given to boys.

Julius was the family name.

The name of Gaius’ branch of the Julius family was “Caesar,” which originally meant “hairy.”

Gaius Julius CaesarHis Name

Hair.

The Julius family claimed to be descended from Romulus, Aeneas, and Venus, which would make them all partly divine.

However, his immediate family was anything but godlike.

Although patricians, the Caesars were so poor that they lived among the plebeians in an insula (bad apartment) in the Subura, a very poor part of Rome.

For all of his political ties, there had been no consul in Caesar’s immediate family for years.

The Caesars had a good name among the upper class, but that was all.

Young Caesar would have associated with both plebeians and patricians.

Thus he would have been ambitious, but would have realized that one needs both the senate and the people to become truly powerful.

He did have some very prominent relatives,

however.

His uncle by marriage was none other than six time consul Gaius Marius.

Marius’ fame and fortune would help to get the Caesars back on track.

Uncle Marius

The teenage Julius Caesar was named Flamen Dialis, high priest of Jupiter, for life.

This is an extremely prestigious position, full of wealth and ritual.

However, the Flamen Dialis could not touch metal, ride a horse, or see a corpse; so obviously Caesar didn’t stay long.

Caesar married Cinna’s (an ally of Marius’)daughter, Cornelia, making him the son in law of Sulla’s worst enemy.

Caesar was in a dangerous position. With Marius dead, he would have to be careful and protect himself from Sulla.

When Sulla came to power, demanded publicly that Caesar divorce Cornelia. Caesar refused. Sulla stripped Caesar of the title Flamen Dialis and impounded Cornelia’s dowry.

Caesar’s friends and relatives among the Vestal Virgins persuaded Sulla not to kill Caesar.

“In releasing Julius Caesar, the world will one day find him more dangerous than Gaius Marius.”

Although Sulla reportedly said:

Caesar joined the army in Asia Minor, where he earned the corona civica, the highest personal honor attainable by a legionnaire.

He was given many public honors, such as being allowed to wear a laurel crown on all occasions and to sit on the senate without age restriction.

Although officially pardoned, Caesar thought it wise to leave Italy.

Caesar returned to Rome and slowly began to climb the

cursus honorem.

It was said of him that he was second only to Cicero in eloquence.

In 77 B.C., Caesar

successfully prosecuted

the ex-consul Dolabella for

extortion during his

governorship.

Caesar had begun to make a name for himself in Rome

Sorry.

Mediterranean

And now a story to illustrate the type of man Caesar had become.

On his way to Rhodes to

study rhetoric in 76 B.C., Caesar was captured by

pirates.

While waiting for the ransom money to arrive, he was friendly with his captors.

Immediately on his release Caesar saw to it that the pirates were hunted down and crucified.