Young Caesar
Julius Caesar was born in Rome on July 12 or 13, 100 BC. He did not come from a very rich Roman family. When Caesar was 16 his father, Gaius Caesar, died. He stayed close to his mother, Aurelia.
Rome during Caesar's early years was unstable. Disorder was spread throughout the republic, which had made it hard to operate under its large size and influence.
At around the time of his father's death, Caesar tried to side with his country's nobility. He married Cornelia, the daughter of a noble, had drawn the attention and angered Rome's dictator, Sulla, who ordered the young Roman to divorce his wife or risk losing his property. Caesar
refused to divorce and found escape in the military, serving first in the province of Asia
and then in Cilicia.
After the death of Sulla, Caesar returned to Rome to start his career in politics. He moved to Rhodes for a short time to study philosophy, but during his travels he was kidnapped by pirates. Through negotiation, he convinced his captors to raise his ransom. He then organized a naval force to attack them. The pirates were captured and executed.
Caesars social image was increased in 74 BC when he put
together a private army and fought Mithradates VI Eupator, king of Pontus, who
had declared war on Rome at the time.
When Caesar returned to Rome, he began to work
with Pompey. Pompey was a former lieutenant under Sully, who had switched sides following the
dictator's death. Not long after, in 68 or 69 BC, Caesar was elected as quaestor. A quaestor is: (in ancient Rome) Any of a number of officials who had charge of public revenue and expenditure. Caesar later went on to serve in key government positions under Pompey.
Rome during Caesar's early years was unstable. Disorder was spread throughout the republic, which had made it hard to operate under its large size and influence.
At around the time of his father's death, Caesar tried to side with his country's nobility. He married Cornelia, the daughter of a noble, had drawn the attention and angered Rome's dictator, Sulla, who ordered the young Roman to divorce his wife or risk losing his property. Caesar
refused to divorce and found escape in the military, serving first in the province of Asia
and then in Cilicia.
After the death of Sulla, Caesar returned to Rome to start his career in politics. He moved to Rhodes for a short time to study philosophy, but during his travels he was kidnapped by pirates. Through negotiation, he convinced his captors to raise his ransom. He then organized a naval force to attack them. The pirates were captured and executed.
Caesars social image was increased in 74 BC when he put
together a private army and fought Mithradates VI Eupator, king of Pontus, who
had declared war on Rome at the time.
When Caesar returned to Rome, he began to work
with Pompey. Pompey was a former lieutenant under Sully, who had switched sides following the
dictator's death. Not long after, in 68 or 69 BC, Caesar was elected as quaestor. A quaestor is: (in ancient Rome) Any of a number of officials who had charge of public revenue and expenditure. Caesar later went on to serve in key government positions under Pompey.