Julius caesar UNDER CAESARS RULE Caesars empire Nervii

Julius caesar

UNDER CAESAR’S RULE

Caesar’s empire • Nervii Gaul Spain Corsica • Rome Sardinia Numudia Italy • Philippi Asia Minor Macedonia • Sardis

Caesar’s time line • • • 100 BC: Caesar born 75: captured by pirates 73: member college of priests 69: praetor in spain 68: suspected of attempting to overthrow senate & establish crassus as dictator 65: gains popularity as aedile (dir. of public works/games; puts on combats w/wild beasts and gladiators 63: elected pontifex maximus – head of state religion 62: becomes praetor, or magistrate 61: serves as governor of Further Spain 60: rules Rome w/Crassus & Pompey in 1 st Triumvirate 59: elected consul, one of Rome’s 2 executive offices, in a fixed election; marries Calpurnia; Julia, daughter from 1 st marriage to Cornelia, marries Pompey

caesar’s timeline cont’d • 58: invades Gaul, where more than 200 separate Celtic tribes live • 57: nearly wipes out Nervii army that ambushes his forces in Gaul • 55: invades Germany to show the power of Rome; leads military expedition to Britain • 54: Julia dies and tension grows between Caesar & Pompey • 54: invades Britain again • 51: completes conquest of Gaul • 49: refuses Pompey’s order to give up his army and begins civil war; appoints himself tribune for life and dictator; after returning from Spain, is given the title, “Liberator” • 48: falls in love w/Cleopatra; defeats Pompey’s army at Pharsalus (pardons Brutus & Cassius, who fought against him, then appoints them to a high office • 45: defeats Pompey’s 2 sons in Rome; becomes sole ruler of Roman Republic

Caesar’s end • 44 BC: named dictator for life(February); refuses crown offered by Mark Antony (March); plans to lead army against the Parthians to avenge their defeat of Crassus(March): assassinated (March 15) • Antony forms 2 nd triumvirate w/Octavius and Lepidus; the 3 order the deaths of over 300 senators and 2, 000 businessman to cleanse Rome of supposed loyalists to the slain Caesar

Terms to know in Julius caesar Political Terms • Bondsman: slave • Commons: common people • Consul: chief magistrate-highest official in Republic • Dictator: one person w/complete political control • Plebian: the common people • Praetor: Roman judge/magistrate; next to consul in rank • Rabblement/Rout: the mob • Senator: mainly wealthy patricians; make laws • Tribune: magistrate who protects rights of lower classes • Triumvirate: rule of 3 men Military Terms • Battle: a unit or party of the army • Battles: armed forces drawn up for fighting • Charges: the troops • Cohort: an army division • Ensign: the flag bearer • Alarum: trumpet call to arms • The horse in general: cavalry • Legion: 3, 000 -6, 000 soldiers of 10 cohorts • Parley: (“to talk”) conference between officers of opposing forces • Tributaries: captives (POWs) who had to pay a “tribute” or ransom to Rome to obtain their freedom – this money went to city coffers

Who’s Who in Julius Caesar The 1 st Triumvirate – before play begins: • Julius Caesar: elected dictator for life • Crassus: killed • Pompey: Caesar kills him The 2 nd Triumvirate – after Caesar’s murder: • Octavious Caesar: nephew to Caesar • Mark Antony: a fiercely loyal friend to Caesar • M. Lepidus

Main Characters in Julius Caesar, Dictator of Rome – Calpurnia (Wife) Marcus Brutus, Roman Praetor – Portia (Wife) Servants to Brutus Claudius Clitus Dardanius Lucius Comrades in Arms w/Brutus Young Cato Messala Titinius Volumnius Lucilius Strato Varro Others: Pindarius: servant of Cassius Artemidorus, rhetoric teacher Conspirators Against Caesar Marcus Brutus Decius Brutus Casca Cassius Metellus Cimber Cinna Ligarius Trebonius

Senators Cicero – also a well-respected orator Popilius Lena Publius Tribunes Flavius Marullus • Other senators, citizens, guards, attendants, • and another poet, named Cinna • Soothsayer – who tries to warn Caesar

Major themes in Julius Caesar • Deciding: to whom does one owe his loyalty – friend or country? • Unchecked Personal Ambition: can interfere w/ability to govern the state • Violence: only begets violence • Mob Mentality • Human error: even noble people have personal flaws & blind spots that can undermine their success – or destroy them • When legitimate authority breaks down, all other rules of society will crumble, too • Downfall of idealist in a realistic world