Julius Caesar was a man who many people know for his famous words, “I came, I saw, I conquered.” He was a great leader and a powerful man throughout Roman history. Many people might not know this but Julius Caesar held five different offices during his lifetime. Let’s look at the five offices he held and why they were important in understanding his greatness.
Pontifex Maximus
The Pontifex Maximus was the highest priest in Rome, responsible for maintaining Roman religion and religious ceremonies. Julius was elected to this office in 63 BC as part of the First Triumvirate with Pompey and Crassus. This office provided him with religious authority which gave him credibility and respect from the people of Rome who followed traditional religious practices.
Consul
In 59 BC, Julius was elected consul alongside Bibulus. As consuls, they had control over civil law and patrician assemblies. They also had veto power over each other’s decisions which prevented them from abusing their power too much. Consulship was an important step in Julius’ career as it enabled him to pass laws that allowed him to build up an army that would later help him conquer Gaul (modern-day France). This allowed him to gain more influence within the Roman government and set up his future success.
Proconsul of Gaul
In 58 BC, Julius was appointed Proconsul of Gaul where he went on to conquer much of modern-day France, Germany, Belgium and Britain over the course of 8 years. As Proconsul, he had full military command over these regions which allowed him to expand Roman control into Europe and secure natural resources such as gold for Rome’s economy. This expansion helped make Rome one of the most powerful empires in history during its time.
Dictator
After conquering Gaul, Julius returned to Rome where he declared himself dictator in 49 BC due to political tension between himself and Senate members who opposed his rule.. This allowed him to remain in power while circumventing Senate opposition by bypassing traditional legislative processes such as voting or presenting bills before voting took place; instead he could make laws on his own without any interference from others.. He also had legal immunity due to holding this position which meant no one could challenge his decisions or prosecute him for any wrongdoings while he held this title.
Emperor
After being named dictator for life in 44 BC, Julius declared himself emperor two years later after defeating Pompey at the Battle of Pharsalus.. As emperor, he had full control over all aspects of governing including military decision-making.. He also held a large amount of personal wealth due to taxes collected from conquered territories which enabled him to fund public projects such as construction projects around Rome.. His reign lasted until 44 BC when he was assassinated by a group led by Brutus; however it is still remembered today as one of the greatest imperial rules in Roman history..
Conclusion:
Julius Caesar is remembered today as one of the most influential figures in Roman history thanks to his five different offices throughout his lifetime.. From Pontifex Maximus to Emperor, each office gave Julius greater powers that allowed him to expand Rome’s borders into Europe while also improving its economy through taxation on foreign lands.. His accomplishments have made Julius an iconic figure whose legacy still lives on today centuries after his death.. For anyone interested in learning more about ancient Rome or its rulers,. studying what offices were held by Julius is essential towards understanding how powerful this man truly was throughout history!
