Significant Political Relationships of Julius Caesar
Caesar’s relationships between prominent Romans and the Senate were a result of the tension between the populares and the optimates: while individuals such as Caesar sought mutually beneficial political alliances to fulfil their own ambitions, the optimates resisted the undermining of the established Republican system of government. Caesar’s political alliances were a method of gain for all involved individuals, however to usurp absolute power, these relationships were necessarily temporary and unstable in nature. Following the dictatorship of Sulla (82 BC), the Senate were especially wary of the accumulation of power by an individual, causing Caesar’s relationship with the Senate to become increasingly tense as his political and military career progressed.
Political alliances were essential for the advancement of Caesar’s career, especially when facing the opposition of the Senate. Caesar’s understanding of the Roman Republican system allowed him to formulate relationships that could be used for his own political gain. Caesar’s most significant political coalition was ‘The First Triumvirate’, an unofficial alliance that constituted Pompey, Crassus and Caesar, formed in 60BC. Plutarch defines the alliance as the “most potent political force in Rome”. Ostensibly, the alliance was mutually beneficial Caesar’s allies, allowing Pompey to grant land to his veterans and achieve the “ratification of his acts in the provinces across the seas”; and Crassus hoped he might achieve “pre-eminence in the state” due to his powerful alliances (Peterculus).
Goldsworthy’s writings suggest that due to Caesar’s position as the “junior member”, he was able to gain the most benefit from the agreement. In his early career, Caesar ascribed diligently to Sulla’s informal career path, the ‘Cursus Honorum’, requiring Caesar to command significant political influence. His initiation of the Triumvirate served a dual purpose: his association with prominent Romans endowed him with influence
Political alliances were essential for the advancement of Caesar’s career, especially when facing the opposition of the Senate. Caesar’s understanding of the Roman Republican system allowed him to formulate relationships that could be used for his own political gain. Caesar’s most significant political coalition was ‘The First Triumvirate’, an unofficial alliance that constituted Pompey, Crassus and Caesar, formed in 60BC. Plutarch defines the alliance as the “most potent political force in Rome”. Ostensibly, the alliance was mutually beneficial Caesar’s allies, allowing Pompey to grant land to his veterans and achieve the “ratification of his acts in the provinces across the seas”; and Crassus hoped he might achieve “pre-eminence in the state” due to his powerful alliances (Peterculus).
Goldsworthy’s writings suggest that due to Caesar’s position as the “junior member”, he was able to gain the most benefit from the agreement. In his early career, Caesar ascribed diligently to Sulla’s informal career path, the ‘Cursus Honorum’, requiring Caesar to command significant political influence. His initiation of the Triumvirate served a dual purpose: his association with prominent Romans endowed him with influence