The optimates argued that the high priest must have been involved too, and Caesar's only way to prevent larger troubles, was to divorce his wife.Ĭaesar was bankrupt by now. These ceremonies of the Good Goddess were celebrated exclusively by women in the house of the pontifex maximus, but a man had been able to be present (5 December 62). This time, they managed to rise accusations against Caesar, who they said was involved in a desecration of certain secret ceremonies. Nevertheless, he was elected praetor, and the optimates became nervous for the first time, because Caesar was extremely popular with the masses. Caesar's opposition to the death penalty again represents his 'popular' policies, and probably he knew a lot more about the plot than he wished to acknowledge.
This second conspiracy was discovered by the consul Cicero, who had Catilina's followers executed at the instigation of Marcus Porcius Cato the Younger (95-46 BCE), a representative of the traditionalist wing of the optimates. In this capacity, he proposed a moderate line against the followers of Catilina, who had made a second attempt to seize power. Two years later, Caesar had himself elected pontifex maximus or high priest. The leader of the plot, one Catilina was able to continue his career as a social reformer. This same year, he was accused of complicity in a plot to murder the consuls, but was not sentenced. In this way, as a true popularis, he would control their votes in the People's Assembly. He organized great games, making sure that the Roman mob would remember his name. That by now he had developed political ambitions is shown by an incident in Hispania: in Gades he saw a statue of Alexander the Great, and lamented that he had as yet performed no memorable act, whereas at his age -33 years old- Alexander had already conquered the whole world.Īfter his return from Hispania, Caesar was elected aedile (in 65) and responsible for 'bread and circuses'. This was a way of claiming Marius' inheritance. (A quaestor was a magistrate with financial tasks in a province.) Before his departure, Marius' widow Julia died, and Caesar held a funeral speech in which he praised his aunt and her family. In 68, he was quaestor and served in Baetica, a province in Hispania which is roughly equivalent to modern Andalusia. A career as a general and a politician had started. Being a war hero by now, Caesar returned to Rome in 73. On his own initiative and expenses, Caesar raised a small army and defended some towns, giving the official Roman commander Lucius Licinius Lucullus (117-56 BCE) time to organize an army and attack the enemy's homeland. They were interrupted, however, when Mithridates of Pontus attacked Asia Minor a second time (74). After this incident, he continued his studies ( text).
After the ransom was paid, Caesar manned some ships, defeated the bandits and had them crucified. Caesar demanded this prize to doubled (after all, he was an aristocrat) and promised to punish his captors.
In 75, he went to Rhodes for further education, and was again captured by pirates, who asked the usual tariff. This was a normal thing to do, and Caesar stayed far from politics. When Sulla died in the first weeks of 78, Caesar felt save to return to Italy, where he picked up a career as a criminal lawyer. All his courage, however, did not help him when - on his way back home - he was captured by Cilician pirates and forced to pay the usual ransom, 25 talents (c.500 kg) of silver. There is more certainty about another event: during the siege of Miletus, Caesar gained a decoration for bravery ( corona civica). Caesar was sent on a diplomatic mission to king Nicomedes IV Philopator of Bithynia (ruled 94-74) and was rumored to have had a love affair with this ruler. Between 81 and 79, Caesar served in Asia Minor on the personal staff of Marcus Minucius Thermus, who was praetor.
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