Julius Caesar :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Julius Caesar was the dictator of Rome from 61-44 BCE. He was born in the year 100 BC into a patrician family who claimed decendancy from the kings of Alba Langa. At the time of his birth, Rome was still a republic and the empire was only beginning. Caesar made his way to praetorship by 62 BC and many senate felt him a dangerous, ambitious man. The senate did their best to keep him out of consulship. He finally became consul in 59 BC.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Caesar was at the pinnacle of his power when he returned from Spain in 45, yet within a year he was once again facing problems with the Optimates, and had seeming lost the support of the ever fickle populance of Rome. The problem was himself and his absolute power. With his impatience, he often denigrated the Republic as a shadow without a body but the majority of the conservative aristocracy failed to understand this. In Caesar they saw only the threat of a king, a word which was linked with the word â€Å"tyrant† in Roman history which is cruel or unjust rule.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Now that Caesar had control over the lands of Bituriges, Vercingetorix started to lead his army to the Boii oppidum of Gorgobina whom Caesar had settled under the protection of the Aedui after he had defeated them in battle. Caesar sent word that he was going to help them. On the way he stopped his troops at Vellaundunum, oppidum of the Senones, and set up siege. He didn't want to leave any enemies behind him who might get in the way of the grain deliveries and supply. His siege lasted three days before a deputation was sent out to surrender. The Carnute had only jus heard of the siege at Vellaundunum. They gathered troops to garrison Cenabum, the Carnutes stronghold. The Carnutes had expected the siege to last longer than it had and were suprised to see Caesar camped outside of the town. The Carnutes decided to escape over the bridge at the back but Caesar predicted they would try that and sent troops to guard the bridge during the night. When Julius heard of the escape, he set fire to the gates of the Oppidum and entered because the bridge and roads were so narrow, that few inhabitants escaped.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Julius Caesar stated that â€Å" cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once.