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Gaius Julius Caesar was a powerful military leader who changed the course of the Greco-Roman civilization decisively and irreversibly. Julius belonged to Rome’s original Aristocracy, the patricians, or landholding upper class, and his lineage can be traced back to the goddess Venus. While growing up Caesar dreamed of being like Alexander the Great who had already conquered what at Caesar’s time was known as the world. Also, Caesar admired and studied the two most successful Roman’s of his day, Pompey and Crassus. With this envy and his military genius Caesar was determined to leave his mark in the world. Caesar won power with his incredible military tactics and had great influence over his troops and many people. However, the power and stature Caesar yearned for eventually led to his assignation in the end. Julius Caesar is best remembered for his military leadership, reforms, and infamous death. First, Caesar was famous for his amazing military leadership. “Caesar was evidently fascinated and obsessed by military and imperial problems” (Caesar 3). Once in power “Caesar set out to conquer Gaul, starting with the Helevetii, a tribe in what is now Switzerland” (Green 27). He called a meeting with the Helevetii chief and demanded his tribe leave Gaul; however, they refused. The Romans were skillful fighters and easily defeated the Helevetti (29). Next, Caesar and his troops moved on to conquer the Germans. “The Roman troops were frightened by stories about how fiercely the Germans fought, but Caesar raised their moral with a brilliant speech” (29). The Romans attacked strategically and the German leader, Ariovistus, barely escaped alive. By now, Caesar had taken most of Gaul under control; however, Vercingetorix, a chief of a Gallic tribe, believed he could defeat the Roman army. For the first time Caesar faced a brave and skillful general. But the Romans were relentless, and after a month of fighting, Vercingetorix surrendered. Finally, Gaul was completely under Roman control. Before Caesar set off for the Gallic wars, he had formed the first triumvirate, or league of three, including Pompey, Crassus, and himself (25). However, while in Gaul the triumvirate became weak, and then totally fell apart when Crassus was killed in a battle (41).
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