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Derivation of Powers:
- From consulship (4 elections: 48, 46–44 BC).
- From dictatorship (first appointed irregularly in 49 BC).
Appointment of Dictators:
- A dictator was nominated by a consul, not elected.
- Special enabling law allowed praetor M. Lepidus to nominate Caesar in 49 BC.
Contextual Need for Dictatorship:
- Urgent need for election to consulship for 48 BC.
- Both consuls fled early in 49 BC, preventing regular elections.

Rare Appointment:
- Historically, dictators had been appointed for specific immediate needs under the Republic.
- The powers of dictatorship lacked precise legal definitions.
- Powers were not necessarily absolute; not acting as overriding authorities over other magistrates.
Deposition of Tribunes (44 BC):
- Two tribunes (Caesetius and Marullus) were deposed by fellow tribune C. Helvius Cinna, not directly by Caesar.

Caesar's Influence:
- Dominance stemmed from military power and personal loyalties, not solely from titles.
- Loyalty from supporters who gained from association with Caesar was a key factor.

Features of Dictatorship:
- Short-term magistracy intended for military or civil duties.
- Unlike consuls, dictators had a deputy (magister equitum) for continuity in absence.
Challenges of Control:
- Caesar struggled to monitor subordinate actions effectively while away from Rome.
Terms of Reference:
- "rei gerundae causa"
- Meaning: “to take necessary action,” encompasses both military and civil duties.
- Authority to convene assemblies was unclear.

Brief Duration:
- Lasted only 11 days, focusing on administrative tasks.
- Responsibilities included holding elections and assigning magistrates.
- No master of horse appointed during this term.

Second Dictatorship:
- Nominated by P. Servilius Isauricus after news of Pharsalus (October 48?).
- Extended beyond usual limit, held for a full year.
Third Dictatorship:
- Appointed for ten years; saw rising chaos in governance.
- Strains included lack of elected consuls, veteran mutinies, and civil disturbances.
Final Dictatorship (Early 44 BC):
- Made perpetual, misjudged step that contributed to assassination.

Legislation and Intent:
- Actions were reactive; no evidence of a long-term constitutional vision.
- Similarities to Sulla’s legislation included gains in governmental roles without deep reform claims.
- Caesar did not aim for radical constitutional changes, but rather addressed immediate governance needs.

Increased Magistracies:
- Raised numbers of praetors and quaestors to match administrative demands post-civil wars.
- Praetors increased from 8 to 16; quaestors doubled to 40.
Senate Revisions:
- Revised roll three times (47, 46, 45) increasing Senate size to alleged 900 members.

Reformation of the Patriciate:
- New patricians named to replenish losses from civil war; measures intended for stability.
Citizenship and Grants:
- Extended citizenship gradually, including Cisalpine Gauls and towns like Gades; prior precedents needed.
Land Reforms and Colonization:
- 80,000 settled in overseas colonies to address socio-economic pressures.
- Colonization aimed primarily at veterans, offering relief from economic hardship in Italy.

Lack of Political Succession Planning:
- No clear successor or hereditary dynasty established; involved interests of multiple allies.
- Caesar's intentional decentralization of positions among trusted old officers.
Propaganda Dynamics:
- Octavius leveraged the name of Caesar post-assassination, creating a construct of continuity and legitimacy.

Assassination and Aftermath:
- Caesar’s position highly contested; his eventual intentions remain a matter of historical speculation and contradiction.
- Following death, Caesar’s designations, claims, and political maneuvers faced skepticism, highlighting the intricate dynamics of Roman politics.