Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar – 70s BC – Principles

Caesar begins public life within the Republican cursus honorum, serving as military tribune in Asia and quaestor in Hispania Ulterior in 69 BC, formally respecting Republican office-holding and senatorial authority. Cicero acknowledges Caesar’s early constitutional behaviour (To Pompey 5.7). Scholars: Gruen – early conformity to Republican norms; Steel – ambition initially channelled through tradition.

Julius Caesar – 70s BC – Good Judgement

Caesar uses his quaestorship in Spain (69 BC) to gain administrative and military experience while cultivating elite networks without provoking senatorial hostility (To Pompey 5.7). Scholars: Steel – prudent early career management; Morstein-Marx – careful self-positioning.

Julius Caesar – 70s BC – Lack of Good Judgement

Caesar accumulates debt and relies heavily on patronage to fund political advancement, creating long-term dependence on powerful allies (To Atticus 2.18). Scholars: Gruen – early signs of risky ambition.

Julius Caesar – 70s BC – Showing Honour

Caesar earns dignitas through legitimate military service and magistracies rather than violence or illegality (To Pompey 5.7). Scholars: Gruen – honour through traditional service.

Julius Caesar – 70s BC – Lack of Honour

Cicero hints that Caesar’s personal ambition is already prominent and may outweigh commitment to collective Republican values (To Atticus 2.18). Scholars: Steel – ambition foreshadows later excess.

Julius Caesar – 60s BC – Principles

As aedile in 65 BC and praetor in 62 BC, Caesar claims to act for the benefit of the Roman people while remaining formally within constitutional limits. Cicero notes tension between principle and ambition (To Atticus 2.18). Scholars: Gruen – mixed motives typical of late Republican politics.

Julius Caesar – 60s BC – Good Judgement

Caesar forms the First Triumvirate with Pompey and Crassus in 60 BC to overcome senatorial obstruction and secure the consulship of 59 BC (To Atticus 2.18). Scholars: Steel – highly effective political pragmatism.

Julius Caesar – 60s BC – Lack of Good Judgement

The Triumvirate bypasses senatorial authority and undermines constitutional norms, accelerating political instability (To Atticus 2.18). Scholars: Morstein-Marx – informal power-sharing damages Republican process.

Julius Caesar – 60s BC – Showing Honour

Caesar funds public games and urban improvements as aedile, increasing popular goodwill and civic prestige (To Atticus 2.18). Scholars: Gruen – public generosity as a form of honour.

Julius Caesar – 60s BC – Lack of Honour

Caesar prioritises personal advancement over mos maiorum by sidelining the Senate through private alliances (To Atticus 2.18). Scholars: Meier – honour subordinated to ambition.

Julius Caesar – 50s BC – Principles

Caesar claims his Gallic command (58–50 BC) protects Roman allies and secures Italy’s northern frontier, presenting his campaigns as defensive (To Atticus 8.8). Scholars: Gruen – public justification rooted in Roman duty.

Julius Caesar – 50s BC – Good Judgement

Caesar achieves major military victories over the Helvetii (58 BC), Belgae (57 BC), and at Alesia (52 BC), securing veteran loyalty and immense political capital (To Atticus 8.8; To Plancus 10.6). Scholars: Steel – exceptional strategic judgement.

Julius Caesar – 50s BC – Lack of Good Judgement

Caesar refuses to surrender his command and crosses the Rubicon in 49 BC, initiating civil war against the Senate (To Atticus 9.4; To Atticus 9.11a). Scholars: Morstein-Marx – catastrophic escalation.

Julius Caesar – 50s BC – Showing Honour

Caesar maintains loyalty to his troops and rewards allies generously, reinforcing military discipline and personal allegiance (To Plancus 10.6). Scholars: Gruen – leadership honour through loyalty.

Julius Caesar – 50s BC – Lack of Honour

By marching on Rome, Caesar violates legal authority and undermines Republican constitutional order (To Atticus 9.4). Scholars: Steel – honour sacrificed to power.

Julius Caesar – 40s BC – Principles

Caesar claims extraordinary powers and dictatorship after 49 BC to restore order and stability to the Roman state (To Atticus 14.4). Scholars: Gruen – ideological justification of autocracy.

Julius Caesar – 40s BC – Good Judgement

Caesar defeats Pompeian forces in Spain, Africa, and Greece, consolidating control over the Roman world and ending large-scale civil resistance (To Caelius 2.11; To Trebonius 10.28). Scholars: Steel – efficient consolidation of power.

Julius Caesar – 40s BC – Lack of Good Judgement

Caesar accumulates offices, becoming dictator perpetuo in 44 BC, underestimating senatorial hostility and political culture (To Trebonius 10.28). Scholars: Morstein-Marx – misjudges elite resentment.

Julius Caesar – 40s BC – Showing Honour

Caesar shows clemency to defeated enemies, including former Pompeians, presenting mercy as a political and moral virtue (To Trebonius 10.28). Scholars: Gruen – clemency as Roman honour.

Julius Caesar – 40s BC – Lack of Honour

Concentration of power marginalises the Senate and destroys Republican libertas, provoking assassination in 44 BC (To Caelius 2.11; To Trebonius 10.28). Scholars: Meier – ambition overwhelms honour.