Julius Caesar is considered one of the world’s best military leaders. He is known for his military power that influenced Rome from 60 B.C. - 44 B.C. He played a huge role in how Rome developed throughout the years because of his military contributions that either played a positive or a negative effect on Roman society. Caesar put in a lot of his effort and energy during the first triumvirate on the conquest of Gaul.
Caesar went to Africa to battle their forces and was victorious. After returning Caesar was awarded the position of dictator and governed like a military leader often by announcing things and expecting the rule to be followed. The Senate would then put them on record as decrees. Caesar’s choice of leadership was overall beneficial for Rome however many were against it. His type of leading made many politicians angry which was one of the key reasons why he was assassinated..Caesar’s dictatorship is regarded as a good time for Roman prosperity and in many ways Rome benefited however many senators especially those in the Optimate faction who were Caesar’s political enemies thought he would become a king and get rid of the senate.
Marius had a few other accomplishments which also affected Caesar. He had many repeated consulships, which all laid down the foundation for Caesar’s desire to seek so much power from the State. He also shifted the army’s loyalty away from the Senate to the generals when he reformed the armies to include plebeians, which later made it possible for Caesar to successfully march on Rome and take absolute power. This was because Caesar was a supporter of the populares, so his soldiers were already extremely loyal to solely him, and not as much the State. These actions were all done mostly before Caesar had taken politics into his consideration, as he was still a young man.
In every campaign and political position held by Caesar, he gained leverage in various ways, especially through crucial political alliances, his cunning, people-pleasing abilities, and his immense sense of determination. First of all, Julius Caesar formed critical alliances with whoever need be in order to obtain power. One alliance of his that predominantly stands out is known as “The First Triumvirate.” Caesar aligned himself with Pompey and Crassus, two strong political front-runners in 60 BCE, in order to rise to be consul. Altogether, they replaced their own enemies with newly elected officials, therefore creating a machine that couldn’t be stopped. With the newly established representatives, it was truly impossible to cap Caesar’s growing power.
He is responsible for the destruction of democracy and the wildly unequal distribution of power. His blatant overextension of his rights made him more of a threat to Rome than a valuable influence. He also effectively exploited his own people, and used their unwavering support to further damage the empire’s political system. Caesar Augustus was nothing short of a cruel dictator, and his reign was ultimately detrimental to ancient
This was helpful to Caesar because it allowed him to further influence men that would later help him back in Rome. Meaning, Caesar was getting closer to his goal of moving up the political ladder in
Due to his bravery during the siege, Caesar was awarded the Civic Crown. After returning to Rome in 77 BC he became a lawyer and made a name for himself for the way he attacked and defended in court. One day in 75 BC while traveling to learn about public speaking, Caesar was captured by pirates, but was released a month later. After his release he gathered a fleet and sought out and executed the very pirates that captured him. Soon he had his own army and was ready to take part in the Third Mithridatic War.
Julius Caesar halted the advance of the Helvetii in Switzerland from migrating into Gaul “Caesar decided that they would be a great threat to the Roman province, and in a great battle he sent them back into their homeland” (History.com Staff). Julius Caesar is also said to have protected the chieftains of central Gaul from an “German invader from across Rhine, Ariovistus and drove them out of Gaul” (History.com Staff). Julius Caesar went through a series of several battles in northern Gaul, he stopped a Celtic attack, dealt with a major revolt by Gallic chieftains, and began a civil war with Pompey the Great. These facts help to support the claim that Julius Caesar was one of the greatest military minds in
Julius Caesar was a political and military leader whose reign marked the beginning of the Roman Empire and the end of the Roman Republic. Caesar did not always follow the law to get the power that he obtained. Caesar once stated, “If you must break the law, do it to seize power; in all other cases, observe it.” If Caesar saw a way to get power, he took the opportunity even if it meant breaching the law. On January tenth forty-nine BC, Julius Caesar broke a Roman law by crossing the Rubicon River. People were not allowed to bring any part of their army into Italy, and once this act was done, they lose their right to rule their own province.
Succeeding in having all of Gaul under Roman control, Caesar proved himself to be a great ruler and achieved a very high reputation as a strong leader. He was also admired by his army for being ready to sacrifice and go through any hardships and overcome all obstacles for the sake and welfare of Rome. Being favored and admired by the army was one of the main reasons that triggered the senate's fear of his escalating power. However, things began to gradually deteriorate and gravitate towards a civil war. The senate managed to pull Pompey towards them and stimulate tension between him and Caesar; to take things up a notch Crassus died leaving only Pompey and Caesar to each other.