Suetonius gaius julius caesar summary5/11/2023 ![]() Suetonius said, …he not only begged money from the allies, to help pay his debts, but also attacked and sacked some towns of the Lusitanians (13). On the other hand, Caesar also did many things that made him very disliked by the people and led to his assassination. Suetonius also says, to retain his relationship and friendship with Pompey, Caesar offered him his sister’s granddaughter Octavia in marriage he lavished gifts on men of all other classes offering prisoners to some by the thousand as a gift, and sending auxiliary troops to the aid of others whenever they wished, and as often as they wished, (6-7). This guaranteed the loyalty of the citizens and the legions of Rome in Caesar’s favor. Whenever grain was plentiful, he distributed it to them without stint or measure, and now and then gave each man a slave from among the captives, (6). In explanation of these actions, Suetonius states, He doubled the pay of the legions for all time. After the Senate attempted to remove Caesar as the governor of Gaul, he began a civil war and did many things to win the favor of the people. He also picked fights with both allied and hostile nations, creating more enemies than the Roman empire cared to have. These tributes made Caesar very unpopular with the people and the Senate. Such actions include, All that part of Gaul…with the exception of some allied states which had rendered him good service, he reduced to the form of a province and imposed upon it a yearly tribute of 40,000,000 sesterces, (Suetonius 6). This use of power likely inspired Caesar to become consul and have this power indefinitely.ĭuring his reign over Gaul, Julius Caesar made many decisions that were deemed unacceptable by the Senate. As praetor, Caesar was a tribune of the commons, (Suetonius 4). This effect was also enhanced by his role as praetor which allowed him to utilize extensive government authority in the absence of a consul. This office most likely aided Caesar in his ability to understand the Roman government, giving him an advantage as consul and dictator. The position held important political and legal powers as well as religious ones, especially concerning the censoring of public morals (Suetonius 3). The Pontifex Maximus was the high priest of the College of Pontiffs. Caesar served as military tribune, Pontifex Maximus, Praetor, and Quaestor before eventually becoming the consul and then dictator of Rome. This is stated by Cole and Symes, Caesar returned to Rome in triumph literally.Ī triumph was a spectacular honor awarded to a victorious Roman general by the Senate (Western Civilizations 124). Julius Caesar held many political offices before being elected consul and was awarded a triumph. These changes allowed legions to be loyal to one commander rather than the Roman democracy, opening up the door for a civil war to begin. Cole and Symes also note that He also changed the course of Rome’s history by reorganizing and expanding the army, (Western Civilizations 123). Among these issues was a revolt led by Spartacus against the Roman forces defeating as many as 10,000 men, ending in the death of Spartacus himself. In the time leading up to Caesar’s political career, Rome was in a very unsteady place, Politically, the century after the Third Punic War was one of great turbulence, (Cole and Symes, Western Civilizations 122). He also utilizes a clear chronological order to provide an easy to understand example of the changes in Roman governance over the course of Julius Caesar’s reign. Suetonius explains how the actions of Caesar led to changes in the governing of Rome and gives insight on his effect on Roman democracy, or lack thereof, by telling what Caesar did and the unrest these actions caused. ![]() The reader can also see the distaste that the citizens and the Senate had for him, eventually leading to his assassination. In this selection, it is shown how Caesar came to power and the problems he encountered along the way. Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, Lives of the Caesars is an important account of the journey of Julius Caesar written by Suetonius.
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