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Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar. 2002 Production with Jeremy Sisto, Richard Harris, Christopher Walken, and Chris Noth. Movie begins in 82 BC with Sulla’s march on Rome Caesar would have been 18 or 19 years old Important Characters: Pompey Born in 106 BC, 24 at start of the movie

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Julius Caesar

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  1. Julius Caesar 2002 Production with Jeremy Sisto, Richard Harris, Christopher Walken, and Chris Noth

  2. Movie begins in 82 BC with Sulla’s march on Rome • Caesar would have been 18 or 19 years old • Important Characters: • Pompey • Born in 106 BC, 24 at start of the movie • “The Great” – very successful general • Driven by desire for military glory • Disregard for laws • Cato • Great-grandson of Cato the Elder • Born in 95 BC (probably would not have been in the Senate at this point in the movie) • Studied stoic philosophy • Optimate • Strict follower of the rules and laws • Looked after the treasury, prosecuted former quaestors for dishonesty • Prosecuted Sulla’s infomers • Marius and Cinna • Enemies of Sulla • Marius died in 86 BC • Cinna is killed in 83BC while leading his troops to Greece against Sulla

  3. Background on Caesar • Born on July 12th, 100 BC • Julian Family – legendary decedents of Aeneas who was the son of Venus • Ancient family, but not very distinguished in recent times • Nephew of Marius by marriage • Married Cornelia, daughter of Cinna, at 18 (83 BC) • Same year Sulla marched into Italy • Had Julia in 82 BC (Sulla invades Rome) Clip 1

  4. Caesar in Asia and His Return • Caesar leaves Rome to escape Sulla • Heads to Asia Minor • Victim of pirates • pays off his ransom and crucifies his captors • Returns in 78 BC after Sulla’s death • Unlike the movie, Pompey is not in the Senate at this time • Cornelia dies in 69 BC (from childbirth) almost 10 years after his return • Some of Sulla’s laws are slowly lifted including the ban that prevented Tribunes from holding further office Clip 2

  5. Spartacus' Slave Revolt (73-71 BC) • 74 slaves led by Spartacus, a Thracian, escaped their training camp at Capua • Attracted slaves and free workers from across Italy – 70,000 men • Success against Roman armies • Senate puts Crassus in charge of suppressing the revolt • Had won the battle at Colline Gate for Sulla in 82 • Very wealthy – could support his troops out of pocket • Won the battle at Lucania, Spartacus was killed • 5000 Slaves escaped and fled • Pompey, who was returning from campaigning in Spain, caught and slaughtered these last rebels • Pompey claimed that he was responsible for ending the war • Crassus, who was already jealous of him, was furious

  6. Consulship of Crassus and Pompey (70) • Crassus’ candidacy was natural: he was old enough, had been a praetor, and a successful military leader • Pompey was too young (35), had not been praetor, and was not even a senator • Both men had armies that could persuade election to high offices, but this wasn’t needed and they were both easily elected to consul in 7o BC • Bad terms but cooperated on some measures • Restored all of the tribunes full powers

  7. Pirates in the Mediterranian (67) • Grain supplied in Rome were limited as trade routes were unsafe because of pirates • No longer strong powers in the east to keep the pirates in check (such as Egypt) • Pirates had at least 1000 ships • An extremely large command was placed in the hands of Pompey • Opposition feared too much authority and power in the hands of one man • Pompey’s brilliant commanding tactics conquered the pirates in three short months

  8. War with Mithridates (67-63) • King of Pontus • Sulla had campaigned against him (87-85) as well as others (74-67) • In 66, War was handed to Pompey • Drove Mithridates to the far east of Pontus and defeated him • Mithridates did not die here • Mutiny within his own troops in 65 led to his death • He also annexed Syria and captured Jerusalem in 63 • Criticized for taking these other initiatives

  9. Other political events in the 60s • Cicero won the consulship in 63 BC • Thwarted the Cataline Conspiracy who was disgruntled having lost the election for consul • Caesar elected to pontifex maximus (63) • Bribery, sent him into debt • Rites of Bona Dea (62) – divorced his wife Pompeia • Caesar elected to praetor (62) • Caesar served as governor in Further Spain (61) • Gained back his wealth from corrupt governorship

  10. Rise of the First Triumvirate • Caesar ran for the consulship of 59 • Opposed by Cato and Bibulous (rival candidate) • Needed financial and political backing • On good terms with Crassus and Pompey • Arranged a reconciliation between the two • Convinced them to join together to overcome the opposition and achieve their goals • Invited Cicero to join them • he declined on principle • Secrete at first and only informal, but powerful influence in Rome • Marriage between Pompey and Julia strengthened this political alliance • Caesar won consulship and then command in Gaul the following year Clip 3

  11. Sexuality of Caesar • Marriages primarily for political reasons, though did deeply care for his first wife, Cornelia • Borrowed other wives and lended his own • Servilia, mother of Brutus, was very close with Caesar • Had many other relationships with both women and men • "Every woman's husband and every man's wife.” • Nimomedes of Bithynia was his most famous male lover • "Whatever Bithynia and her lord possesed /Her lord who Caesar in his lust caressed" Clip 4

  12. Vercingetorix • Chieftain of the Arveni tribe in Gaul • Unites the Gauls against the Romans • Had some success against the Roman legions • Culminated in 52 BC at the Battle of Alesia Clip 5

  13. Dissolution of the Triumvirate • With Caesar in Gaul, distrust reemerged between Pompey and Crassus • Caesar called a meeting at Luca to renew the triumvirate in 56 • Decided that both Pompey and Crassus would be consul in 55 • Extend Caesar’s term in Gaul • Pompey given commission in Spain and Crassus in Syria against the powerful Parthian empire (a chance at glory) • In 54 BC, Julia dies in childbirth breaking the bond between Caesar and Pompey • Crassus dies in battle against the Parthians in 53 BC

  14. Events leading up to Caesar's Invasion • Political life in Rome remained in turmoil • Pompey elected to sole consul in 52 • Caesar begins to become anxious about his return • Normal procedure for governor’s return would require him to disband his troops and become a private citizen • Caesar feared that his enemies would use this time to bring charges against him • He wanted to transition from governor to another office without a break as to avoid prosecution • Needed Pompey’s support for this exemption, Pompey was indecisive about how to respond • Caesar had gained prestige and wealth which would rival Pompey • Eventually Pompey declined to help • Caesar proposed on numerous occasions that he would give up his command if Pompey would relinquish his in Spain • Pompey refused • In early 49, it was declared that Caesar must either give up his army or become an enemy of the state Clip 6

  15. Caesar's Dictatorships • Made dictator in 49 which he held for a few days to preside over elections • He was elected consul in 48 • Dictator again in late 48 for a year • Elected consul in 46 • Dictator for 10 years • Sole consul in 45 • Consul again in 44 (5th time) • February 44, made dictator for life • Was not a Sulla • Forgave enemies, did not execute anyone, refused to take public funds that came into his hands • Cicero wrote: “But do you see what sort of man hi sis into whose hands the state has fallen, how clever, alert, well prepared? I truly believe that if he takes no lives and touches no man’s property, those who dreaded him most will become his warmest admirers.” Clip 7

  16. Utica • Principle city of the province of Africa • After defeating Pompey in Greece, Cato and Pompey’s sons went there • In 46, Caesar came and they surrendered without a fight • Cato felt his cause was lost and committed suicide

  17. Caesar in the 40s • Increased Senate’s size to 900 • Casear was responsive to the social problems that plagued Rome • Debt: did not eliminate it, but was responsive and creative, alleviated the problem some • Reformed the calendar • Founded new colonies to settle his veterans • Carthage and Corinth • Public building program to reduce unemployment • Forum of Julius Casear • New senate house • Had other building plans that did not get carried out • Wanted Rome to by a center for culture and education • Wanted to bring stability and prosperity to the Roman world

  18. Attitudes towards Caesar • The poor loved him • Image of his head appeared on Roman coins in the beginning of 44 • Temple created in the Roman Forum • Worshiped as a god • Had absolute power and the upper classes hated him for the way he used it and they feared him • He believed that the republic was dead and that only he could regulate state affairs Clip 8

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