"Rome Wasn't Built in a Day"- Julius Caesar

“Rome wasn’t built in a Day” 
(Great Things take time)

 - Julius Caesar -

  By Suryatej Vakkalanka

    Julius Caesar was Rome’s most famous dictator, consul, and military general. He was born on July 12th, 100 B.C. in Rome. His mom’s name was Aurelia and dad’s name was Julius- they were a rich family. At 16, Caesar’s dad died, and that was when he started making his way into politics and the army.

    From 61-60 B.C., Julius Caesar served as governor of the Roman province of Spain. His wife Cornelia tragically died, and he later remarried Pompeia, but divorced with her pretty quick. After he traveled back to Rome, Caesar made a deal with Pompey and Crassus, forming ‘the  First Triumvirate’. This alliance helped him get elected consul for 59 B.C. The following year, he was appointed governor of Gaul, where he stayed for eight years. While there, Julius expanded the Roman territory in Gaul, going up to the river Rhine. Although, while at Gaul, he was still mindful of politics at home, and thus hired political agents on his behalf. Later, Crassus died in battle, at Syria. This left Pompey and Caesar as the leaders of Rome.

    Because Pompey felt Caesar was gaining too much power, he told the senate his opinion, and they agreed. Caesar now had a choice- he could either go inside Rome and claim dictatorship, but risk to start a civil war, or he could stay out of Rome and get executed by Pompey’s forces. As he decided to go in, Caesar “...crossed the Rubicon...”, something he couldn’t take back. As predicted, Pompey was no match for Caesar, and easily got crushed. He was forced into Egypt by Caesar, and eventually got killed there. Caesar also fell in love with Cleopatra, had an affair with her, and together produced a boy named Caesarion. Although, he  didn’t marry her because of Roman laws. When Julius Caesar came back to Rome, he declared himself dictator for life. This surprised and angered many people, as they were not used to having leaders for life. Although, Caesar thought this rule was important for reforming Rome.

    Even though Caesar said he would serve for life, he lived only one more year before the senate killed him. During his time as dictator, Caesar changed the Roman calendar, reorganized the form of government, and resurrected two city-states. He even was careful to solidify his dictatorship by filling the Senate with his allies and making coins with his face on it. On March 14, 44 B.C. (the Ides of March,) the Senate finally applied what it had been planning from a long time- the assassination of Julius Caesar. Brutus and Cassius were said to have killed the famed dictator. After his death, Caesar’s great-grandnephew, Gaius Octavian, took the throne. Later known as Emperor Augustus, he was the first emperor of Rome.

Overall, Julius Caesar completely reformed everything in Rome, and started a new type of government called ‘the Roman Empire’. He was one of the best political leaders at that time, and made Rome extend its boundaries at the same time. What Julius Caesar created was never lost, and is still flowing in the blood of Rome.