Julius Caesar

Also known as: Caesar / Julius / the Divine · Family: Caesarian · Role: high-priest of Jupiter · First appears: Julius Caesar 1

Julius Caesar, also known as Caesar, Julius, and the Divine, was a Caesarian and high-priest of Jupiter. He lost his father in his sixteenth year, repudiated his childhood engagement to Cossutia after being nominated high-priest, and married Cornelia, who soon bore him Julia (daughter of Julius Caesar). When Sylla tried to make him divorce Cornelia, Caesar lost his priesthood, his wife’s dowry, and his estates, and withdrew from Rome; he later obtained a pardon through Mamercus Aemilius and Aurelius Cotta. He began military service under M. Thermus in Asia, served briefly under Servilius Isauricus in Cilicia, and received the civic crown after the storming of Mitylene. Reports also arose about his time at the court of Nicomedes.

After returning to Rome, Caesar became military tribune, secured the recall of Lucius Cinna, married Pompeia and later divorced her after suspicion involving Publius Clodius, then served as quaestor and praetor. He prosecuted Cornelius Dolabella, studied rhetoric under Apollonius, defended Masintha against Hiempsal, and gained election as chief pontiff through extensive bribery. As consul with Marcus Bibulus, he formed an agreement with Pompey and Marcus Crassus, drove Bibulus from the forum, divided land in Campania, opposed Cato the Younger, and advanced measures involving Cicero, Caius Rabirius, and Caecilius Metullus. He married Calpurnia and gave Julia (daughter of Julius Caesar) to Pompey, while securing Cisalpine-Gaul, Illyricum, and Gallia-Comata.

During nine years in Gaul, Caesar reduced the region to a province, crossed the Rhine, invaded Britain, and suffered a reverse at Gergovia. He lost his mother, Julia (daughter of Julius Caesar), and his granddaughter, while his alliance with Pompey deteriorated. Opposed by Claudius Marcellus, Cato the Younger, and others, he offered to surrender much of his command but halted at Ravenna and prepared for war. He secretly advanced, crossed the river, and called on his troops to follow him: “The die is now cast.” He took Picenum, Umbria, and Etruria, defeated Pompey’s forces in Spain, and won at Pharsalia; he then overcame Ptolemy, placed Egypt under Cleopatra and her younger brother, defeated Pharnaces, and defeated Scipio and Juba.