The Colossus of Rome
Gaius Julius Caesar (100 BCE–44 BCE) stands as history’s most complete political operator – a brilliant general, cunning statesman, masterful propagandist, and elegant Latin stylist. As Plutarch observed: “He was born to do great things and had an instinctive passion for distinction.” His life permanently transformed the Roman world, ending the Republic and creating the imperial system that would dominate Europe for centuries.
Military Campaigns: Conquests That Reshaped the Ancient World
The Gallic Wars (58–50 BCE): Rome’s Imperial Turning Point
Caesar’s subjugation of Gaul remains one of antiquity’s most consequential military campaigns. In his own words from Commentarii de Bello Gallico: “Of all these peoples, the Belgae are the bravest…because they are farthest from the civilisation and refinement of our Province.”
Key achievements:
- Complete conquest of modern France, Belgium and parts beyond in just 8 years
- Two British expeditions (55-54 BCE) – the first serious Roman contact with Britain
- Alesia (52 BCE): The definitive siege where Caesar’s engineering brilliance trapped Vercingetorix’s forces between two fortified walls
Contemporary reaction was mixed. While Cicero praised his “incredible speed and energy”, Cato the Younger condemned the unnecessary bloodshed, declaring Caesar should be “handed over to the barbarians” for war crimes.
The Civil War (49–45 BCE): Republic’s Death Knell
When the Senate ordered him to disband his army, Caesar made his fateful decision. As Suetonius records: “Coming to the Rubicon…he declared ‘The die is cast’ and crossed with his army.”
Decisive victories:
- Pharsalus (48 BCE): Outmanoeuvred Pompey’s larger force through superior troop placement
- Egyptian Campaign: Installed Cleopatra after the famous Alexandrian War
- Zela (47 BCE): Prompted his legendary “Veni, Vidi, Vici” dispatch
- Munda (45 BCE): Final crushing of republican resistance
Physical Appearance & Personal Habits
Contemporary sources provide vivid descriptions:
- Suetonius: “Tall, fair-complexioned, with keen black eyes…he was somewhat over-nice in the care of his person.”
- Plutarch: Noted his thinning hair which “caused him much annoyance”, leading to his habitual wearing of laurel wreaths
- Cicero’s letters: Mocked his “artfully arranged hair” and habit of scratching his head with one finger
Armoury of a Conqueror: Caesar’s Battle Gear
Archaeological finds and reliefs show Caesar would have worn:
- Lorica musculata: Sculpted bronze cuirass for ceremonial occasions
- Attic-style helmet: With distinctive transverse crest
- Gladius hispaniensis: The lethal Spanish short sword (blade ~50cm)
- Parazonium dagger: Ornamental sidearm denoting rank
His personal armoury likely included gold-decorated pieces – the Chiaramonti Caesar bust shows elaborate military decoration.
Psychology of Power: The Caesar Paradox
Ancient sources reveal fascinating contradictions:
- Mercy & Cruelty: Plutarch notes he “habitually spared captives”, yet crucified pirates and ordered mass executions
- Health: Suffered from “the falling sickness” (epilepsy) but displayed phenomenal endurance
- Vanity & Pragmatism: Obsessed with his appearance yet indifferent to discomfort in camp
Cicero’s private letters capture this duality: “When I see his hair so carefully arranged…I cannot imagine him dreaming of subverting the Republic.”
First-Hand Accounts: The Ancient Sources
- Caesar’s Commentaries: Masterworks of propaganda presenting his campaigns as necessary and just
- Cicero’s Correspondence: Over 900 letters providing real-time political reactions
- Sallust’s Histories: Analysis of the moral decline Caesar exploited
- Plutarch’s Parallel Lives: Greek perspective comparing Caesar to Alexander
- Suetonius’ Twelve Caesars: Salacious anecdotes and imperial records
Caesar’s Rome: Where to See the Evidence
- British Museum: The Warren Cup and Gaulish trophies
- Louvre: The Arles bust (most lifelike portrait)
- Roman Forum: Remains of the Rostra where he spoke
- Vatican Museums: The Chiaramonti Caesar
- Naples Archaeological Museum: Frescoes from Pompeii’s final years under his rule
Enduring Legacy: The Caesar Effect
The assassination on the Ides of March 44 BCE failed to restore the Republic. As Tacitus noted: “The secret of empire was now revealed – an emperor could be made elsewhere than in Rome.”
His legacy persists in:
- Language: “Caesar” became “Kaiser” and “Tsar”
- Timekeeping: His Julian calendar lasted 1600 years
- Politics: The template for charismatic populism
- Literature: Shakespeare’s definitive portrayal of ambition
In the words of the historian Ronald Syme: “The age of Caesar saw the old order destroyed and the new created. He was the most complete and versatile genius the ancient world produced.” Caesar remains the archetype of the soldier-statesman, his life a perpetual study in the intoxication and perils of absolute power.
