Personalities in Their Time – Essay on Julius Caesar

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Julius Caesar’s political ambitions were succeeded through his military talent. Caesar is, by common consent, “…one of the world’s greatest soldiers…”1 He exploited this to further his political career in a direction that had yet to be seen by an ambitious Roman. Caesar instigated the abolishment of the Roman republic; a system that had served Rome for 482 years. Through his strategic manipulation of his greatest resource, his army, he was the first to achieve what others before him could not: the lifetime title of dictator over the entire republic of Rome, of which he accomplished in 44 BC. For Caesar, “…his term of command in Gaul was the turningpoint of his career.”2 He played to his strengths masterfully; forming an impressive reputation through his skilful and crushing victories over the Gauls, and at the same time strengthening his army. Caesar also appropriated an enormous amount of war booty which he exploited for significant political benefit. Yet, despite Caesar’s use of the military furthering his career, it also concurrently hindered it. As, with the escalation of Caesar’s power, there was a strengthening opposition from the threatened optimates. Caesar’s eight years in Gaul Campania were invaluable to his career, however, they also triggered the looming fatality of his future.

Caesar’s fervour and foresight in using the triumvirate to obtain Gaul as his proconsul governorship was the move that would deliver the empire to him. It allowed for the establishment and enhancement of his dignitas. During his military campaign in Gaul (58 – 50 BC) Caesar revealed himself to be one of the greatest military commanders in Roman history. According to Plutarch, Caesar’s legions fought against 3 million men in the course of the Gallic Wars, with 1 million becoming enslaved. He also wrote that 800 cities were destroyed and 300 were subjugated3 . Caesar himself stated that 368,000 people of the Helvetti tribe left their homeland, of whom 258,000 were killed4 . Whilst it is very likely that these numbers are overstated, it is of no consequence. For Caesar, this success (real or grossly exaggerated) served as excellent propagandistic material to cultivate military fame and glory. Caesar emerged from the Gallic campaign with a military reputation equal to that of Rome’s best general: Pompey. This status was well deserved, as “Caesar carried the Roman Empire beyond the limits of the inhabited world.” by tripling the size of Rome’s territory, as noted by Plutarch. Plutarch’s commentary on Caesar reflects Caesar’s careful refinement of his mirage. Caesar propelled this heroic image with his book Commentaries on Gaul because it enhanced his career due to furthering his popularity in the wider Roman population. This was important, especially as a populare who depended upon the likes of the people to remain powerful in the Senate