Gaius Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman who played a critical role in the events that led to the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire.

Early Life and Rise to Power

• 100 BC: Born in Rome into a prestigious but relatively impoverished patrician family.
• 84 BC: Appointed High Priest of Jupiter (Flamen Dialis) by his uncle-in-law, Gaius Marius.

Ascent to Power

• 63 BC: Elected Pontifex Maximus (High Priest of Rome), a position he held for life.
• 60 BC: Formed the First Triumvirate, an informal political alliance with the wealthy Marcus Licinius Crassus and the general Pompey.
• 59 BC: Served his first term as Consul, Rome’s highest political office.

Assassination

• 44 BC: Caesar was assassinated in the Theatre of Pompey by a group of rebellious senators on the Ides of March.

Why did Tiberius Gracchus attract so much suspicion from the Roman Senate?

Tiberius Gracchus was a Roman veteran who was elected as a plebeian tribune in 133 B.C. He recognized the need to provide land for other veterans, as many had sold their farms after returning home. Their fields had been neglected and ravaged while they were away, making them difficult to restore to productivity. As a result, many veterans sold their land, expecting to continue serving in the army; however, the Roman army no longer accepted landless men.

Tiberius proposed a land redistribution program in which unused excess land would be taken by the Roman government and redistributed to citizens without land. In doing so, he bypassed the Roman Senate, breaking tradition. Although the Concilium Plebis passed the law and the Senate later approved it, the Senate refused to fund the program. When Tiberius ran for reelection, again defying tradition, violence broke out during the election. He raised his hand to his head as a signal of danger, but it was mistaken as a sign that he sought a crown. This misunderstanding led to a revolt, which ended in Tiberius dying.