Julius Caesar

Caesar: Life of a Colossus (2006) by Adrian Goldsworthy

This biography of Caius Julius Caesar examines the man and Rome in great detail.

By the time of Caesar's birth in 100 BC, Rome had already crushed Carthage (146 BC) and was the dominant power in the Mediterranean.

Caesar was born into a family of patricians, the oldest aristocratic class in Rome.

Caesar's father died when he was only 16, leaving him as the head of household.

Caesar married, then fled Rome over troubles with the Roman dictator Sulla.

Caesar spent time with King Nicomedes of Bithynia (north coast of modern Turkey). There were allegations that Caesar and the King were homosexual lovers, and the scandal pursued Caesar for the rest of his life.

After Sulla's death, Caesar returned to Rome, but then on a trip to Rhodes, he was kidnapped by pirates. Caesar was released upon payment of a hefty ransom. Caesar gathered an extra-legal military force and captured the pirates. He had developed such a high regard for the pirates that he had their throats cut before they were crucified to spare them a lingering death.

Caesar became a notorious womanizer. One of his lovers was the mother of Brutus, the one Shakespeare described as "the noblest Roman of all." Many of Caesar's affairs were with the wives of Roman senators.

Caesar was a successful politician and held a number of posts: questor, aedile, propaetor (Spain), consul, and proconsul (Gaul).

Caesar had a long and successful military career in Gaul and Gaul is where Caesar accumulated his fabulous wealth. Caesar also had military expeditions in Britain and Germany.

One of Caesar's most famous battles was against Vercingetorix at the Siege of Alesia. It was the "doughnut" where Caesar was laying siege to Alesia while being attacked from outside by forces trying to rescue Vercingetorix.

Caesar returned to Rome, crossing the Rubicon with his legions, engaging in Civil War with Pompey and many other prominent senators. Pompey was assassinated by his own men in Egypt.

Caesar waged successful campaigns in Macedonia, Egypt, Africa (against King Juba and his Numidians), and Spain.

Caesar's next plan was to leave for a campaign against the Parthians to avenge Crassus' defeat at Carrhae. He would be gone from Rome for years.

Just days before his scheduled departure, Caesar was assassinated by a group including Cimber, Casca, and Brutus. Caesar's last words were "you too, my son" to Brutus.

Dozens of senators were involved in the plot. Within three years, most of the conspirators were dead, some by suicide.

This is a fascinating book, with many entertaining anecdotes and interesting details about Julius Caesar and Rome. Well worth reading.