Julius Caesar was a Roman military general and statesman. He was born in July, 100 BC in Suburra, Rome. He was the youngest child of Gaius Julius Caesar and Aurelia Cotta. He was a descendant of the Trojan prince Aeneas. His father died when he was only 16 years old. He got married to Cornelia, daughter of a powerful politician of Rome at the age of 17.
He was elected to consul when he was 40 years old. Consul was the highest ranking position in the Roman army. Then he became President of the province of Gaul (France). Julius Caesar had enormous political power. He successfully conquered France and twice invaded Britain.
Quick Facts: –
- He was kidnapped by pirates when he was in his mid-20s while crossing the Aegean Sea.
- Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar.
- He got married numerous times. His first wife Cornelia died while giving birth to a child.
- After Cornelia’s death, he married Pompeia, whom he divorced after 6 years and then he married Calpurnia Pisonis.
- He was also involved with some other women in his life.
- He had many mistresses. Servilia Caepionis was one of them. Her sun Marcus Brutus also participated with 30 other men in Caesar’s assassination.
- Caesar’s face was depicted on Roman coins.
- The month of July is named after Julius Caesar.
- He also had a son with Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. Cleopatra was 21 years old and Caesar was 52 years old at that time.
- He turned the Roman Republic into a more powerful Roman Empire.
- He remained dictator of Rome for the remainder of his life.
- Through a series of events, Caesar went to war against his second wife Pompeia.
- Julius Caesar was also a prolific writer. His writings about his military conquests survive today, he wrote different forms like poetry.
