Julius Caesar &Ndash; Great Roman Leader or Power Hungry Politician?

Julius Caesar was well known for doing many good things for the Roman Empire but most of these things were overshadowed by his thirst for power and his desire to be a king. I believe that Julius Caesar’s success on the battlefield and success as a politician lead him to ultimately being over-ambitious in his quest for power.

Julius Caesar was not a law abiding citizen. When the Senate asked for him to hand over his army, he refused. He passed over the River Rubicon, leaving his province. Roman laws said that this was illegal. After doing this, he confronted his enemies in Rome. After being proscribed or sentenced to death, he fled Rome, once again disobeying the law of Rome.  The senate considered this as treason, but could not do anything about it. Caesar disobeyed the law of being a dictator for an amount of only six months, and eventually declared himself as the dictator for life. After declaring himself as dictator for life, he was attacked by conspirators, ending his life. Caesar’s not obeying laws eventually helped his death occur.

In 78 B.C., Caesar began his political career. Over the years, Caesar became a very good speaker and an orator. He spoke out for reform of the government and helped advance the political positions of Pompey, the head of the popular party. In 69 B.C., in Pompey’s absence, Caesar became the recognized head of the popular party and his rise to power began. Caesar rose in power, and in 63 B.C., he became the high priest, allegedly by heavy bribes. He eventually rose to high power and made enemies with the senate. The senate had conspirators that though he was cruel and driven only by the thought of expanding his own power in Rome. Other people, such as the general Pompey where disliking Caesar’s intentions to achieve major political status. After Cleopatra had come to Rome with her son, Caesarion, confirmed the conspirators beliefs that Caesar wanted to reform the government of the Roman Republic and make himself king. Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus, the leaders of the conspirator group against Caesar, killed Caesar by stabbing him twenty three times. Ultimately, Caesar’s political ambitiousness ended up killing him.

            He was successful militarily and gained the trust of his soldiers and the people, but was seen by some as a cruel person because of his bloodthirsty nature. He conquered lands that expanded the Roman Empire, but where unnecessary to the Republic’s growth.  Caesar had many enemies, including the conspirators that killed him, which were Pompeian’s pardoned by Caesar after the battle of Pharsalus. He fought against and killed Pompey’s sons’ armies and created yet more unnecessary bloodshed. Julius Caesar had declared himself a dictator for life, which he persuaded a senate to do. Caesar then declared a campaign against the Parthian empire in the east, which we do not know why. He was preparing to fight another unnecessary campaign when he was killed by conspirators. Caesar’s pointless military ambitions also proved to be his undoing.

            Caesar was one of the most interesting but controversial characters in Roman history. Some people view him as a defender of the people, a great speaker and ruler while others view him as an over ambitious military politician who forced his way to power. I believe that he was overly bloodthirsty in conquest and too ambitious in his say in government. Based on history, the facts show that Julius Caesar excelled in war and politics, but longed to be the legitimate King of Rome.