Political Alliances In Julius Caesar

The mention of the name “Julius Caesar” evokes a variety of different images in people’s minds. Some would think “dictator,” others, “leader” or “influential,” and even so, among others, “an arrogant asshole.” Whatever the world’s opinion of Caesar, it is an indisputable fact that he completely transformed the Roman Republic into a strong Roman Empire. Caesar has a rather lengthy track record for positions held in the political sphere, thus making him the epitome of what one would define as a political success. The leading contributing factor in this success was the crucial political alliances he formed. That along with his cunning, people-pleasing abilities, and immense sense of determination all contributed to how Julius Caesar became the

In every campaign and political position held by Caesar, he gained leverage in various ways, especially through crucial political alliances, his cunning, people-pleasing abilities, and his immense sense of determination. First of all, Julius Caesar formed critical alliances with whoever need be in order to obtain power. One alliance of his that predominantly stands out is known as “The First Triumvirate.” Caesar aligned himself with Pompey and Crassus, two strong political front-runners in 60 BCE, in order to rise to be consul. Altogether, they replaced their own enemies with newly elected officials, therefore creating a machine that couldn’t be stopped. With the newly established representatives, it was truly impossible to cap Caesar’s growing power. Additionally, to solidify this alliance, Caesar “offered [Pompey] his sister’s granddaughter, Octavia, in marriage,” utilizing the tactic of peace weaving in order to get what he wanted to stimulate his own political gain (Suetonius, 41). He also made an agreement among the three of them in which “no step should be taken in public affairs that did not suit any one of the three” (Suetonius, 39). Caesar was careful to take great precaution in all of his affairs, not because anyone was particularly his friend, but mainly because he was looking out for himself. The First Triumvirate eventually fell due to Caesar’s extensive governorship in Gaul and Pompey’s eagerness to join the Optimate Faction. However, at that point in time, Caesar was far too successful for the alliance’s failure to affect his ever-thriving political strength. Seeing that he had victoriously completed his conquest of Gaul, “Caesar set up an efficient provincial administration to govern the vast territories,” and went on his way to lead Rome autocratically (McManus, 1). Though he tried to obtain this positon legally, he eventually resorted to military force,