The Roman office of dictator was meant to grant extraordinary powers to an individual for a limited period in the face of crisis. His new Julian Calendar, based on the Egyptian solar model, lasted until the 16th century. Granting citizenship in new territories unified all of the Empire’s peoples. Land reform particularly favoured military veterans, the backbone of Roman power. He reformed and strengthened the state, acted on debt and over spending and promoted child birth to build Rome’s numerical strength. He knew that the vast territories Rome now controlled needed a strong central power, and he was it. The ensuing four-year civil war sprawled across Roman territory leaving Pompey dead, murdered in Egypt, and Caesar undisputed leader of Rome.Ĭaesar now set about putting right what he thought was wrong with a Rome that was struggling to control its provinces and was riddled with corruption. He came home, but at the head of an army, saying “let the die be cast” as he crossed the Rubicon River to pass the point of no return. Pompey was now a rival, and his faction in the senate ordered Caesar to disarm and come home. He was now a popular military hero, responsible for Rome’s long-term safety and a huge addition to its northern territory. Recalling Alexander the Great, he set upon a bloody campaign of eight years of conquest, which made him fantastically wealthy and powerful. He made it to the top as part of a team, joining forces with the massively wealthy Crassus and the popular general Pompey to take power as the First Triumvirate, with Caesar at its head as consul.Īfter his term ended he was sent to Gaul. There is a story that in Spain and aged 33, Caesar saw a statue of Alexander the Great and wept because by a younger age, Alexander had conquered a vast empire. He moved up the bureaucratic ranks, becoming governor of part of Spain by 61-60 BC. Once Sulla had resigned power, Caesar, who had proved himself a brave and ruthless soldier, began his political climb. Caesar lost his inheritance – he was often in debt throughout his life – and he headed for the distant safety of overseas military service.

When Gaius Marius was overthrown by the dictator Sulla, the Republic’s new ruler came after his vanquished foe’s family.

Watch NowĬaesar learned early that Roman politics was bloody and factional. Historian and archaeologist Simon Elliott answers the key questions surrounding one of history's most compelling figures - Julius Caesar.

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