The Twelve Caesars As A Biography About Twelve Roman Empire

Julius Caesar was among the most powerful Roman dictator in ancient Roman Empire. Caesar was becoming powerful and popular that he was the ancient Roman citizen’s conqueror. His unique leadership became his way forward to consulship in 59 B.C. and ultimately a powerful ruler. His power became a fear for Roman ruling class. His power controlled the three important areas in Roman’s life: the military, religion, and politics. His power allowed him to establish a rule to control Rome. In 46 B.C, Caesar secured his office to become a dictator for ten years, which many prominent ruling class was zealously hated him. His dictatorship secured his position as a ruler. Julius Caesar wanted the shift and improved the life of Romans; even so, he needs the blessing of the Senate to pass his laws. The Roman Senate could block the passing of laws which would aid the Roman state. But, Caesar was found not to be manipulated by the Senate. He increased the number of senators to nine hundred to fill vacant positions. He selected senators for a variety of places and positions. The new appointed senators outnumbered the old senate position, mostly supporters of Caesar. Ceasar’s rule was instrumental in reforming and transforming Roman empire. He improved the Roman calendar, and re-arranged the local form of government. He then

Suetonius was born around 68-9 AD, possibly in Hippo Regius (Suetonius xviii). His mentor described him as ‘scholarly and honorable’ and many held him in high regard (xix). Suetonius completed The Twelve Caesars sometime during the 120s during the peak of his career (xxiii). Suetonius conveys his opinion of each emperor indirectly through how he portrays their vices and virtues. According to Suetonius, a Roman leaders good and bad qualities included their military successes, relations with the citizens of Rome, mental stability, and private relationships. Suetonius believed that Augustus embodied many of the characteristics of a good leader.

(Julius Caesar Biography) Caesar began to have more adversaries once he started getting more power. With the measure of expert Caesar had, he transformed into a risk to the agents and the country (since he kept taking off various enhancements.) Caesar expected to control however much land and power as could be normal. Even though Caesar required tremendous control, he had envisioned that it was best for Rome to have serenity. He communicates that "It is more fundamental for Rome than for myself that I should survive. I have for quite a while been happy with power and splendor; be that as it may, should anything happen, Rome will welcome no peace. Another normal war will break out under much more unpleasant conditions than the

This major event sparked the transition of the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire; however, Plutarch, Suetonius, and Caesar each depict different aspects of this monumental event to show its importance. In Plutarch’s, Roman Lives, Caesar is described through personal anecdotes that show both a ruthless and extremely ambitious side of the political leader, and a humble, more caring side of the soldier. Suetonius portrays Caesar as a manipulative politician, motivated by a need for power. While Caesar himself takes a more militaristic viewpoint of the events. While these authors may have opposing perspectives, it is clear that their depictions describe one of the most important events in history, and that each was written in an attempt to describe the motivations and actions of Julius Caesar which lead to the Roman Civil

The power of Rome for many centuries was held by the senate, which is a group of men of the wealthiest families in Rome. They made all the political and military decisions for Rome. Under the Senate the romans conquered many lands such as the entire Italian peninsula, southern france, Spain, and northern Africa. After the conquering of many of these lands the armies became independent and created civil wars in the land. Much of the Roman empire was corrupt and falling apart. Three generals Crassus, Pompey, and Julius Caesar formed an alliance, they kept the senate but left it with little power and say. The senate was worried about Julius Caesar he was power hungry and very

Julius Caesar military activities were significant in Gaul, Germany and Britain, which as a result contributed to the fall of the Roman Republic. The combined result of Rome’s wars of expansion and competition among its leading men placed immense strain on the republic system. Julius Caesar, an ambitious man, craved the need for power, which he saw Gaul as an opportunity to conquer as Gaul lacked political unity and discipline. With the help of his devoted army and his genius with military tactics, Caesar was able to conquer Gaul with its advantages in favor for himself, gaining popularity as well as exploring new foreign grounds where no Roman has been before. However with great power Caesar was faced with new enemies and the challengers of Roman senate, which contributed to the fall of the Roman republic.

The First Triumvirate between Gaius Julius Caesar, Gnaius Pompeius Magnus (Pompey) and Marcus Licinius Crassus contributed to the fall of the Roman Republic by undermining the Senate, which was unable to effectively deal with an expanding and diverse empire. This was affected by the triumvirate appealing directly to popular assemblies, because their alliance conflicted directly with the conservative Optimates, who refused to change with Rome's expansion. Though ultimately because each triumvir, being an ambitious general and politician was clambering for the same place; to be top man of Rome. The very inception of the Triumvirate, and the resulting power swing it created was the beginning of the end for the Republic.

Suetonius, the author of The Twelve Caesars belonged to the equestrian order, the second tier of the roman elite. He had a hugely successful public career as an advocate, which is a professional speaker who represented people in court cases. He was also described as a teacher of literature, one who specialized in the meaning and usage of words and the explanation of obscure names and references. Suetonius was a serious scholar who had already made his reputation prior to The Twelve Caesars with several major works such as Nero and Caligula. The Twelve Caesars is not only Suetonius’ longest work, but it also involved extensive and careful research of its validity by including various documentary sources. He also cites personal documents of the emperors from which he often, contrary to the normal practice of ancient historians, quoted passages verbatim. Suetonius wrote The Twelve Caesars as a work of scholarly biography because he did not want to produce a historical document nor an expose. He judiciously excludes everything that does not pertain to the person on whom he is focusing and includes everything that does, hence the presence of so much personal and domestic detail. Suetonius not only provides examples from documents but also injects first hand witness information throughout the book; therefore supporting the validity of his writings.

Julius Caesar's triumph in a civil war in the 40s BC made him the absolute ruler of Rome he rose to power through his social status, financial support, military leadership, and political reputation. Caesar became the proprietor in Spain, where he gained some military experience and wealth. Upon returning to Rome in 60 BC he joined Crassus and Pompey to form the First Triumvirate, a trio of political leaders.

After this and many more complex events and elections Caesar would continue to plunder neighboring territories and occupy them. This is how the rise of the Roman Empire, the strongest and longest lasting empire began. Caesar would publicly deny his want to be idolized as a King but acted in ways that suggested he wanted to be idolized more of a God than a Monarch. It was this attitude and his thirst for more power, more territory that would lead his enemies to assassinate him in 44 BC.

Around 50 BCE three influential military and political leaders rose to power through an unofficial alliance. Through their alliance they forever changed how the Roman Republic and Senate were run, and the history of Rome. The first triumvirate included Julius Caesar, Pompeius Magnus, and Licinius Crassus. Pompey and Crassus were both very influential military and political leaders, having both served as consuls and roman generals. Together they allied with Caesar to move him up into consul status, as well as using his power to help push forward their political ideas and principles. Crassus and Pompey, who originally were enemies, continued to compete with one another trying to take over the triumvirate and be the sole roman consul. Eventually, with the event of several key deaths, the triumvirate fell apart. It soon became evident that only one person could rule, and the idea of three co-rulers had failed. Shortly after, Pompey and Caesar split up their alliance after the Roman Senate and the population of Rome had different ideas about who should be the sole consul. The two consuls competed for leadership of the Roman state, which eventually lead to a civil war. Had Pompey won the civil war, Rome would have been forever changed with Pompey as leader.

     'I came, I saw, I conquered.' These are the words of the man who changed the history of the world. This paper will show how no other man in the history of the world represented military and political power better than Julius Caesar. He became a legend for his military exploits and great leadership ability.

Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) was one of the most outstanding leaders in history. He was the first ruler of the Romano-Hellenic civilization and achieved his goals with great success throughout his life of 56 years. He was assassinated by the conspirators, who accused him for practicing tyranny. This essay will discuss whether it was right for the conspirators to murder Caesar and what its consequences were.

Two of the more memorable emperors to the Romans were Augustus Caesar (27 BC to 14 AD), and Caligula (37 AD to 41 AD). Although only having ruled the empire by a separation of 23 years and belonging to the same family (through marriage and adoption), their empires couldn’t have been more different. It is possible to determine the impact of an emperor’s rule based on their many vices and virtues, as well as the choices that they make in relation to them. The author Suetonius expressed in his writings the many vices and virtues that put into perspective the kind of leaders that these emperors appeared as to their polis. As we explore the concept of vices and virtues, as well as what kind of ideals these two rulers represented, we will begin to be presented with a clearer picture of what an ideal emperor would have looked like. A vice can be described as an immoral or wicked behavior; while a virtue can be described as a behavior showing high moral standards. Suetonius and the Roman people had a high interpretation of the concept of virtue and vice, as well as their role in the ruler’s life.

The Roman empire owed its existence to Julius Caesar’s military genius and leadership. At the time of his birth, the Roman republic was rife with corruption, losing touch with the people as Rome rapidly expanded. In addition, the republic suffered much unrest due to an excess of slave labor, leaving many unemployed for the government to sustain with basic food and entertainment, or “bread and circuses.” Caesar changed this, joining partnership with two other prominent men, the wealthy Crassus and the general Pompey, to form the First Triumvirate. However, he quickly took the reins of the new government, securing his position as dictator with many populist actions, such as distributing land to poor farmers. They, in turn, showed loyalty toward their leader, providing unity and patriotism. The Roman empire was born into the perfect geographical and cultural circumstances to rise to greatness.