Early Life
Julius Caesar was born on July 12, 100 BC in Rome. He was the son of Gaius Caesar and Aurelia. His family had noble, patrician roots, but they were not rich. Caesar grew up in a time of unrest and civil war in Rome. There were many unemployed people because of the increased size of the empire which led to cheap slave labor coming into the country. This was the time of The Social Wars. At a young age Caesar realized that money was the key to Roman politics as the system had been corrupt for a long time. In 85 BC Caesar's father died.
A few years after his father's death Caesar was betrothed to a wealthy young woman, Cossutia. This soon broke apart and when he was 18 years old he married Cornelia, the daughter of a prominent member of the Popular Faction. Caesar had a daughter with her which was named Julia. During this time, the Optimate dictator Sulla was in power and he ordered Caesar to divorce Cornelia but he refused. Sulla then put him on an execution list. Caesar was arrested at the age of 19 but influential friends managed to have him released. Caesar then left Rome to let things calm down.
Caesar then joined the army and as a member of a patrician family he didn't enter as a common soldier. His first position was as a military assistent to a provincial governor. Then he was posted to Cilicia where he proved himself a capable and courageous soldier. Caesar saved the life of a comrade and his next assignment was in one of the armies which stopped Spartacus's slave rebellion. Caesar then left the army and spent time in southern Italy improving his education. Caesar there proved he had an incredible talent of public speaking.
Later that year (75 BC) Caesar was captured by Cilician pirates while on his way to the island of Rhodes. They held him captive for forty days until a large ransom was paid and during that time he told the pirates he was going to find them and crucify them after he was set free. When he was set free he hunted them down, captured them, and had them crucified.
A few years after his father's death Caesar was betrothed to a wealthy young woman, Cossutia. This soon broke apart and when he was 18 years old he married Cornelia, the daughter of a prominent member of the Popular Faction. Caesar had a daughter with her which was named Julia. During this time, the Optimate dictator Sulla was in power and he ordered Caesar to divorce Cornelia but he refused. Sulla then put him on an execution list. Caesar was arrested at the age of 19 but influential friends managed to have him released. Caesar then left Rome to let things calm down.
Caesar then joined the army and as a member of a patrician family he didn't enter as a common soldier. His first position was as a military assistent to a provincial governor. Then he was posted to Cilicia where he proved himself a capable and courageous soldier. Caesar saved the life of a comrade and his next assignment was in one of the armies which stopped Spartacus's slave rebellion. Caesar then left the army and spent time in southern Italy improving his education. Caesar there proved he had an incredible talent of public speaking.
Later that year (75 BC) Caesar was captured by Cilician pirates while on his way to the island of Rhodes. They held him captive for forty days until a large ransom was paid and during that time he told the pirates he was going to find them and crucify them after he was set free. When he was set free he hunted them down, captured them, and had them crucified.