Gaius Iulius Caesar Strabo Vopiscus

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Gaius Iulius Caesar Strabo Vopiscus (* around 130 BC; † 87 BC in Rome ) was a politician of the late Roman Republic . He wrote tragedies in the Greek style and, according to Cicero , was considered a humorous speaker. His speeches also influenced the later dictator , his relative Gaius Iulius Caesar . He caused a sensation by attempting to become consul without having previously held the praetur as prescribed . Like his brother Lucius, he died when the troops of Marius conquered Rome .

Life

Caesar Strabo was born around 130 BC. Born as the son of the Roman patrician Lucius Julius Caesar and a Popilia. His older brother, who was also called Lucius Julius Caesar , was consul in 90 BC. And one of the most influential politicians of his time. Sextus , the 91 BC The consulate, and Gaius Iulius Caesar , father of the dictator of the same name, were probably his nephews. The family of the Iulii Caesares , which traced their origins to Iulus , the son of Aeneas , and thus to the goddess Venus , had achieved political importance during the troubled times after the attempts at reform by the Gracchi and the rise of Gaius Marius . Iulius Caesar Strabo Vopiscus also embarked on a political career.

At first he belonged to a committee that monitored the implementation of the lex frumentaria , one of the tribune Lucius Appuleius Saturninus 103 BC. Proposed agricultural law. Around 100 BC He was twice a military tribune . No later than 99 BC He became a pontifex (priest). He then held the offices of the cursus honorum in the usual order: No later than 96 BC. He was quaestor , 90 BC. Curular aedile . Meanwhile the war of allies between Rome and its Italian allies had broken out. Caesar Strabo's nephew Sextus died during the siege of the city of Asculum , while his brother Lucius tried to defuse the situation by granting Roman citizenship to the cities that had not revolted against Rome. In the following year, the offer was even expanded to include opponents of Rome who were willing to compromise.

In the east, King Mithridates of Pontus had meanwhile taken control of large parts of Asia Minor . The Romans first commissioned the general Sulla , then his rival Marius to fight him (see Mithridatic Wars ). The Sulla, deprived of his command, marched to Rome and expelled the followers of Marius, who had to go into exile. Gaius Iulius Caesar Strabo, apparently supported by the new strong man Sulla, applied for the consulate (probably for 88 BC, possibly for 87 BC) without having previously been praetor. This irregular request caused a lot of bad blood in the Roman upper class. No sooner had Sulla left Rome than Marius conquered in 87 BC. BC with the help of the likewise banished Lucius Cornelius Cinna the city. There was bloody street fighting, which Caesar Strabo and his brother Lucius fell victim to.

plant

Caesar Strabo was not only a politician, but also a well-known author and speaker. He wrote a series of tragedies on Greek themes, only three fragments of which have survived ( Adrastus , Tecmesa and Teutras ). He was also a skilled speaker, known for his wit and humor. A generation later, Cicero had him appear in his dialogue De oratore ("About the Speaker"), in which he had Caesar Strabo underline the importance of humor for a good speech. His eloquence is said to have also influenced the young Gaius Iulius Caesar, who heard his great-uncle's speeches as a child and later based his own speeches on his style.

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personal data
SURNAME Iulius Caesar Strabo Vopiscus, Gaius
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Caesar Strabo Vopiscus, Gaius Iulius; Julius Caesar Strabo Vopiscus, Gaius; Iulius Caesar Strabo, Gaius; Julius Caesar Strabo, Gaius
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Roman politician, author and speaker, Caesar's great-uncle
DATE OF BIRTH around 130 BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 87 BC Chr.
Place of death Rome