Describe the features of the rule of Julius Caesar?

Answer 1

Julius Caesar radically reformed the state of the Roman Republic and concentrated power in his hands. He weakened the political power of the patrician aristocracy by weakening the political body which gave it political clout, the senate. He filled it with his supporters. The first chance to do so was the fact that many senators died in the civil war Caesar fought against the forces of the senate. He gave the vacant posts to his supporters. Then he increased the size of the senate from 600 to 900, filling the new posts with his adherents. He also put a limit on the term of office of the provincial governors, who were appointed from among the ranks of the senators. This was needed because the governors treated their provinces as their personal fiefs and the central government had lost control over them.

Cesar ended the practice of electing the officers of state and turned them into his appointees. He gave himself the title of prefect of the morals to give himself the powers of the censors, who among other things, oversaw public morals and enrolled the senators. It was through this that he could increase the size of the senate. This enabled him to increase the size of the senate. He also gave himself tribunician powers have the powers which the plebeian tribunes (who were the representatives of the plebeians and were elected) enjoyed. This gave him the power to veto the senate. Therefore, Caesar increasingly put the control of the state in his hands, contrary to the republican tradition of sharing this among elected officials. This radically transformed the nature of Roman politics. He was also appointed dictator four times. The first time, in 49 BC, he was appointed dictator to preside over his own election as consul and resigned after 11 days. In 48 BC he was appointed for an indeterminate term while he was busy in Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean. He held it for one year. In 46 BC he was appointed for a term of ten years. In 44 BC he was appointed for life: dictator perpetuo (dictator in perpetuity).

Caesar was a pupularis. This was a political faction which championed the cause of the poor and wanted reforms to improve the lot of the poor. It was opposed by the optimates, a conservative political faction which supported the interests of the aristocracy and opposed reforms. Caesar continued to pursue his land reforms to redistribute land for farming to the landless poor which he had legislated years earlier. He wrote off 1/4 of all debts, and distributed some of his money to the poor.

Due to his policies in favour of the poor Caesar was very popular. He was seen as the hero of the people who stood up against an aristocracy which was seen as decadent and corrupt. He was a charismatic leader. He spent lavishly on public games which were festivities which could last for several days. The games had to be financed privately. Such sponsorship added more spice to the otherwise boring life of the poor and helped with his popularity. He transformed the gladiatorial games from funerary rituals in honour of the dead performed privately at the funeral of the rich into public games everyone could enjoy. Caesar also created his own personal religious cult by claiming that his family descended from the goddess Venus.

Answer 2

Julius Caesar ruled as a dictator. A dictator was a man who had supreme power in the Roman republic.

Julius Caesar ruled as a dictator. A dictator was a man who had supreme power in the Roman republic.

Julius Caesar ruled as a dictator. A dictator was a man who had supreme power in the Roman republic.

Julius Caesar ruled as a dictator. A dictator was a man who had supreme power in the Roman republic.

Julius Caesar ruled as a dictator. A dictator was a man who had supreme power in the Roman republic.

Julius Caesar ruled as a dictator. A dictator was a man who had supreme power in the Roman republic.

Julius Caesar ruled as a dictator. A dictator was a man who had supreme power in the Roman republic.

Julius Caesar ruled as a dictator. A dictator was a man who had supreme power in the Roman republic.

Julius Caesar ruled as a dictator. A dictator was a man who had supreme power in the Roman republic.

Answer 3

Julius Caesar ruled as a dictator. A dictator was a man who had supreme power in the Roman republic.