Fun Facts About Julius Caesar: The Extraordinary Life of Julius Caesar.Follow me on Twitter for daily Historical Fun and #OnThisDay tweets.
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The Ides of March:
On the 15th day of the third month in 44BC, Julius Caesar, the Dictator of Rome, was assassinated by Marcus Brutus, Gaius Cassius Longinus, Decimus Junius Brutus, and a whole host of other Roman Senators.
Julius Caesar was stabbed to death on the Ides of March by a consortium of Roman Senators led by Caesar's friend, Marcus-I-did-Eat-Two-Brutus.
Julius Caesar had been told to Beware The Ides Of March, but chose to ignore the prophecy.
Just before Caesar passed into the shadowy world of gonna-return-as-a-zombie-and-eat-your-face-off, he looked into the eyes of his friend and whispered, "Et Tu, Brutus."
This translates into English as, "Your mamma was a snowblower." ***
*** Real translation: "And you, Brutus?"
FUN FACTS ABOUT THE EARLY LIFE OF JULIUS CAESAR
1. Julius Caesar was the most famous Roman General in history, and a Dictator of Rome.
He is not, as some believe, the first Roman Emperor.
That accolade went to his nephew Octavius, who changed his name to Julius Caesar after his uncle's death, and then to Augustus Caesar when he became Emperor.
Julius Caesar, the Julius Caesar we actually know, not the other one, or two, if you read below, was a Roman General, Senator, and Consul of Rome.
He was also awarded the title of Dictator for life. Never was he an Emperor, even though he really, really wanted to be one.
2. Julius Caesar was born Gaius Julius Caesar.
After his father died, he dropped the Gaius. His father was also called Julius Caesar, and who was originally also called Gaius Julius Caesar.
Wowser, that's not confusing at all.
3. All subsequent Emperor's have used the title "Caesar" to denote "Emperor".
It's just a name, and isn't the Latin for Emperor. They used it to continue the belief they are all related to Julius Caesar (the second one, not his father. Although technically his father as well).
4. Julius Caesar was born on July 13, 100 B.C
His parents were Aurelia and Julius Caesar. There is a misconception the baby Julius Caesar was born by caesarean section. There is no evidence of the future General being born this way.
It is unlikely Julius Caesar was born by caesarean, though. Back in the olden days of Rome, it was a dangerous procedure. Most mothers died. However, Caesar's mother didn't. In fact, she lived for almost another 50 years after the birth.
The word caesarean comes from the latin "caesus" which means "cut". Although some historians have hypothesised one of Caesar's ancestors may have had the "cut", hence the name. But no one really knows for sure.
5. Sons of Gods.
The family loved to spill the beans at parties about their links to Iulus, son of Aeneas, a Prince of Troy. He was alleged to be son of the goddess, Venus.
6. Julius Caesar's father was a Governor.
The father of Julius Caesar was a semi-powerful guy in Rome even before the infamous General secured their name in the history books.
His father, also called Julius Caesar, was the Governor of the Province of Asia. Although not rich by ancient Roman standards, the family was reasonably comfortable, nonetheless.
7. Julius Caesar's grandfather was a Consul of Rome.
Julius Caesar would become a Consul of Rome later in his life. A Consul of Rome was the top job you could get back in the day. However, his grandfather on his mother's side, Lucius Aurelius Cotta was also a Consul of Rome. As was his great-grandfather.
8. His uncle was Gaius Marius.
This guy should be more famous than Julius Caesar. But, not so good at using social media to secure his infamy.
The uncle of Julius Caesar, Gaius Marius, was also an extraordinarily successful Roman General, and also held the top job in the Roman Republic, Consul of Rome. In fact, he held it an impressive seven times.
9. His father died when Julius (at the time Gaius Julius) Caesar was 16-years-old.
He immediately dropped the Gaius part of his name becoming the one-and-only Julius Caesar.
As head of his family he now had to take care of his mother, Aurelia, and his sister, Julia.
10. He married Cornelia Cinna.
Out of necessity or love, is up for debate. He needed to secure funds and influence for him and his family after the death of his father. So, after a year in the wilderness, he married Cornelia, the daughter of Lucius Cornelius Cinna.
2. Julius Caesar was born Gaius Julius Caesar.
After his father died, he dropped the Gaius. His father was also called Julius Caesar, and who was originally also called Gaius Julius Caesar.
Wowser, that's not confusing at all.
3. All subsequent Emperor's have used the title "Caesar" to denote "Emperor".
It's just a name, and isn't the Latin for Emperor. They used it to continue the belief they are all related to Julius Caesar (the second one, not his father. Although technically his father as well).
4. Julius Caesar was born on July 13, 100 B.C
His parents were Aurelia and Julius Caesar. There is a misconception the baby Julius Caesar was born by caesarean section. There is no evidence of the future General being born this way.
It is unlikely Julius Caesar was born by caesarean, though. Back in the olden days of Rome, it was a dangerous procedure. Most mothers died. However, Caesar's mother didn't. In fact, she lived for almost another 50 years after the birth.
The word caesarean comes from the latin "caesus" which means "cut". Although some historians have hypothesised one of Caesar's ancestors may have had the "cut", hence the name. But no one really knows for sure.
5. Sons of Gods.
The family loved to spill the beans at parties about their links to Iulus, son of Aeneas, a Prince of Troy. He was alleged to be son of the goddess, Venus.
6. Julius Caesar's father was a Governor.
The father of Julius Caesar was a semi-powerful guy in Rome even before the infamous General secured their name in the history books.
His father, also called Julius Caesar, was the Governor of the Province of Asia. Although not rich by ancient Roman standards, the family was reasonably comfortable, nonetheless.
7. Julius Caesar's grandfather was a Consul of Rome.
Julius Caesar would become a Consul of Rome later in his life. A Consul of Rome was the top job you could get back in the day. However, his grandfather on his mother's side, Lucius Aurelius Cotta was also a Consul of Rome. As was his great-grandfather.
8. His uncle was Gaius Marius.
This guy should be more famous than Julius Caesar. But, not so good at using social media to secure his infamy.
The uncle of Julius Caesar, Gaius Marius, was also an extraordinarily successful Roman General, and also held the top job in the Roman Republic, Consul of Rome. In fact, he held it an impressive seven times.
9. His father died when Julius (at the time Gaius Julius) Caesar was 16-years-old.
He immediately dropped the Gaius part of his name becoming the one-and-only Julius Caesar.
As head of his family he now had to take care of his mother, Aurelia, and his sister, Julia.
10. He married Cornelia Cinna.
Out of necessity or love, is up for debate. He needed to secure funds and influence for him and his family after the death of his father. So, after a year in the wilderness, he married Cornelia, the daughter of Lucius Cornelius Cinna.
Lucius Cornelius Cinna was quite the rich and powerful Roman. He was a Roman Consul four times. As such, he vexed quite a few people. In particular a guy called Sulla, who really hated Cinna. As an aside, Sulla also hated Marius, Julius Caesar's uncle.
11. Julius Caesar found himself in the middle of a power struggle in Rome.
Sulla become Consul of Rome and soon after had to leave to fight a brewing war in Greece.
The Senate had granted him leadership of the Roman armies instead of Marius, who really, really wanted it.
And to say he was vexed by the senate favouring Sulla was an understatement.
Whilst Sulla was away, Marius persuaded (by bribing and killing etc) the Senate to overturn their decision and appoint Marius the commander.
Sulla heard of the news from envoys. And became quite vexed himself. He ordered his soldiers to stone to death the envoys and then ordered six of his most loyal legions to march on Rome.
No Roman army before this had ever crossed the city limits. Ever.
Marius had no army in Rome to counter this aggression. He tried to use gladiators, but they were no match for a fully trained Roman army.
Marius fled the city and Sulla took control again.
Sulla then returned to Greece to finish his other war.
Marius, finding out Sulla was no longer in Rome, returned with his own army and re-took control of the city. He declared Sulla an exile and held fresh elections.
Both Cinna and Marius were elected Consuls again. Cinna for the fourth time and Marius for a record-breaking seventh. All was happy. For a bit.
Five days after the new Consuls took power, they began ordering the killing of anyone who had opposed them.
Seventeen days after Marius became Consul for the seventh time, he died.
12. Julius Caesar went into hiding.
Sulla returned to Rome and went straight to the top. He was awarded the title of Dictator of Rome. A joyous triumph. Not for everyone. His return to power saw an eradication of those who openly opposed him. A bloody eradication.
Julius Caesar's life was spared. However, he was stripped of titles, houses and money. Oh, and Sulla told him to divorce Cornelia, the daughter of his enemy, Cinna.
Caesar refused and went into hiding. Perhaps that marriage was for love.
13. Julius Caesar was a priest.
When his uncle, Marius and father-in-law, Cinna were in control of Rome, they nominated Julius Caesar as the Flamen Dialis, or high priest of Jupiter.
14. Julius Caesar joined the army.
This is not a big revelation to you. He is famous for being a famous Roman General. However, as a priest, you were not allowed to serve as a soldier.
As an aside: priests were also not allowed to touch a horse, sleep three nights away from his own bed, or spend one night away from Rome.
When Sulla stripped Caesar of his titles, including the High Priest of Jupiter, it opened the door for Caesar to enlist.
He didn't right away. He was still in hiding. It took his mother's family to intervene on his behalf. They were still influential and begged Sulla to lift the conditions on his life.
Sulla reluctantly agreed. He said of Caesar, "I see much of Marius in that one."
Sulla always believed the young Caesar would find power and take retribution on him.
15. Julius Caesar won the Civic Crown.
One of his first campaigns was the Siege of Mytilene. He proved himself so capable, serving with distinction, he won the Civic Crown, the second highest honour a Roman citizen could win.
16. There were rumours Julius Caesar liked men.
He may have had taste of the crown he sought later in life during his early military career.
He was sent to Bithynia to secure assistance of King Nicomedes and his fleet of ships. As he spent so long at the King's court, rumours circulated he had an affair with the king.
Caesar denied the rumours.
17. Julius Caesar was kidnapped by pirates.
Sulla died and it was safe for Caesar to return to Rome.
He didn't get very far. In 75 B.C, he was kidnapped by pirates in the Aegean Sea.
Lesser men crumbled, but not Caesar. He was Caesar, after all. He was above these lowly men, and made sure the pirates knew it.
The pirates told him they were demanding a ransom of 20 talents of silver. He spat at that and told them he was worth 50 talents.
He also told them, once the ransom was paid, he would build an army and come for them, retaking the ransom, with interest. Oh, and he said he'd kill every last one of them.
They, of course, didn't take him seriously. Why would they? Caesar was not the infamous Caesar back then. Just a low ranking officer in the Roman army.
18. Caesar was Caesar. And Caesar kept his promises.
Even back in the early days, Caesar was Caesar.
The ransom was paid and Caesar was freed.
Instead of returning to Rome in what he considered to be dishonour, he set about building an army of men, raised a fleet of ships, and hunted down the pirates who captured him.
19. You don't mess with Caesar.
He kept the promise he made to the pirates. The promise they believed to be a joke.
He captured their ships and, on his own authority, an authority not granted to him by the Roman senate, or an authority granted to him by way of rank in the army, he crucified the pirates on the beaches as a warning to others -- You don't mess with Caesar.
20. Julius Caesar was lenient with those who wronged him.
He actually was, but we'll get to that in part two tomorrow.
His leniency in regards to those pirates could be questioned, though. However, in his own mind, Julius Caesar was being lenient.
Before being crucified, he cut the their throats.
Caesar is merciful.
Part Two of The Extraordinary Life of Julius Caesar Coming Soon.
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