How good/bad a dictator was Caesar?
- Thread starter Lonkut
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Irish Caesar
Yellow Jacket
I think he had the interests of the people in mind, but take that with a grain of salt...
Ol' Julius did turn down the crown, and he stepped down the first time he was appointed dictator (of course, he only stepped down to consul, so...). He was basically made a god during his lifetime, and to turn down titles would have made him unpopular and ungrateful; some say that his refusal to stand to greet Senators showed disrespect (while others say that poor Caesar suffered from diarrhea and would have been unable to stand on that particular occasion--it was a symptom of his epilepsy), and turned the Senate against him. The Senate may have already been against him, though; he liked using the public treasury to make the city of Rome a nicer place for its citizens.
If he was a guy who only wanted to be king, he probably wouldn't have refused to let a crown touch his head, though.
I'll let someone else give perhaps a more non-biased perspective...someone whose name isn't directly derived from the imperator's...
Ol' Julius did turn down the crown, and he stepped down the first time he was appointed dictator (of course, he only stepped down to consul, so...). He was basically made a god during his lifetime, and to turn down titles would have made him unpopular and ungrateful; some say that his refusal to stand to greet Senators showed disrespect (while others say that poor Caesar suffered from diarrhea and would have been unable to stand on that particular occasion--it was a symptom of his epilepsy), and turned the Senate against him. The Senate may have already been against him, though; he liked using the public treasury to make the city of Rome a nicer place for its citizens.
If he was a guy who only wanted to be king, he probably wouldn't have refused to let a crown touch his head, though.
I'll let someone else give perhaps a more non-biased perspective...someone whose name isn't directly derived from the imperator's...
Serutan
Eatibus Anythingibus
Caesar certainly did a lot to make himself popular with lower classes with a lot
of public works/break and circuses stuff. As far as rule is concerned, not an easy question to answer, since he spent most of his time campaigning, and was in fact just in Rome to prepare for a new campaign when he was assassinated.
of public works/break and circuses stuff. As far as rule is concerned, not an easy question to answer, since he spent most of his time campaigning, and was in fact just in Rome to prepare for a new campaign when he was assassinated.
Cheezy the Wiz
Socialist In A Hurry
Which Caesar would this be?
Tboy
Future world ruler
Good point. Are we talking about Julius Caesar or Augustus Caesar?
innonimatu
the resident Cassandra
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Well, politicians who place the best interest of the people above their own frequently end assassinated, so perhaps Caesar really was one of these.
One of the roman emperors best liked by the people was Nero, and look at how he was overthrown and vilified. Or Otho, who eventually committed suicide rather than drag on a civil war, on the same year.
One of the roman emperors best liked by the people was Nero, and look at how he was overthrown and vilified. Or Otho, who eventually committed suicide rather than drag on a civil war, on the same year.
Nylan
Characters Welcome
A little of both?
My impression has been that he wanted power...REALLY wanted power. At the same time he realized he needed the support of the people. That may have been his reasoning for his servitude to the people.
Either that or he truly was a servant of the common citizen.
Whatever his intentions though, he certainly did do a lot for Rome
My impression has been that he wanted power...REALLY wanted power. At the same time he realized he needed the support of the people. That may have been his reasoning for his servitude to the people.
Either that or he truly was a servant of the common citizen.
Whatever his intentions though, he certainly did do a lot for Rome
Theryman
King
In reference to the second post, where he turned down the dictatorship:
In Roman times, the senate could appoint a dictator (usually a consul) to lead them through times of crisis. 'Dictator' is a word with very negative connotations today, but back then, Dictators were good things. They would lead Rome with great authority through very tough times, usually wars. When the crisis was solved (or the 6 month term ended), they would step down and assume their previous role. So they were not Dictators in todays sense, although they did weild great power.
And yes, he did turn down the crown, but only because if he did not, he would likely heve been run out of town- or murdered- by senators (of course, he was anyways). Rome had previously been ruled by kings centuries before, and they were looked at as very bad.
Anyways, he did initiate the Roman Empire, and start many civil and political reform. Of course, my favorite part of his life is his supposed role in the Catilian Plots. He was accused of being in cahoots with Catullus by Cicero, and when he was pased a note during a discussion of the conspiracy, was demanded by Cato to read it alour. Turned out to be a love note from Cato's sister! Roffle!
Anyways, he expanded Rome, and I think did good things for it- although he did take the power from the people.
In Roman times, the senate could appoint a dictator (usually a consul) to lead them through times of crisis. 'Dictator' is a word with very negative connotations today, but back then, Dictators were good things. They would lead Rome with great authority through very tough times, usually wars. When the crisis was solved (or the 6 month term ended), they would step down and assume their previous role. So they were not Dictators in todays sense, although they did weild great power.
And yes, he did turn down the crown, but only because if he did not, he would likely heve been run out of town- or murdered- by senators (of course, he was anyways). Rome had previously been ruled by kings centuries before, and they were looked at as very bad.
Anyways, he did initiate the Roman Empire, and start many civil and political reform. Of course, my favorite part of his life is his supposed role in the Catilian Plots. He was accused of being in cahoots with Catullus by Cicero, and when he was pased a note during a discussion of the conspiracy, was demanded by Cato to read it alour. Turned out to be a love note from Cato's sister! Roffle!
Anyways, he expanded Rome, and I think did good things for it- although he did take the power from the people.
Irish Caesar
Yellow Jacket
True, although I think the first time JC was made dictator, he stepped down after a week or two and resumed his position as consul. Generally, Rome had two consuls who had to agree for action to be taken, so the dictator position was good for quick important decisions. I know that at one point, Caesar was the sole consul, although I'm not sure if he stepped down as dictator to be the sole consul, which wouldn't make much of a difference anyway...
It's also quite possible that he turned down the crown when it was offered to him because the people weren't cheering for it, and his turning it down only made him all the more popular. He was granted permission to wear a crown outside of Italy on campaigns, though (shortly before he was assassinated, so he didn't get to enjoy this privilege) which he probably would have done had he not been stabbed first.
Nylan
Characters Welcome
He most likely turned it down because of Rome's general hatred of monarchs (dating back to and due to the Etruscans). I'm sure he wanted it.
He essentially got the same powers when he became dictator for life, but without the prestige and without hereditary rule (not like he had a real heir).
I think he became sole consul after the civil war (see "Crossing the Rubicon") with Pompey, after the collapse of the first triumverate.
He essentially got the same powers when he became dictator for life, but without the prestige and without hereditary rule (not like he had a real heir).
I think he became sole consul after the civil war (see "Crossing the Rubicon") with Pompey, after the collapse of the first triumverate.
If you'll forgive me for correcting your typing error, it was Catiline, not Catullus, who was the head conspirator. Catullus was a romantic poet of that era.
That's a very nice story, though, and one I hadn't heard before.
Theryman
King
D'Oh! See, we were doing the Cicero speeches against Catalline earlier, but now we are doing some of Catullus's poems in Latin. Too many 'C's' in Roman names, I think.If you'll forgive me for correcting your typing error, it was Catiline, not Catullus, who was the head conspirator. Catullus was a romantic poet of that era.
That's a very nice story, though, and one I hadn't heard before.
I know how it is. In Greek history, I always had trouble keeping distinct Cylon, Cimon, and Cleon. 
In my current Latin course, we're doing Pro Caelio and then Catullus after the midterm. Must be a pretty common arrangement.
In my current Latin course, we're doing Pro Caelio and then Catullus after the midterm. Must be a pretty common arrangement.
Theryman
King
Actually, earlier we were using these very... odd textbooks called 'Ecce Romani.' Then we got a worthwhile teacher. It is amazing how different Latin written by modern people is from Latin written by... Romans.
Ukas
Pthooey of Tomainia
Caesar wasn't "in office" for very long time?
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