Julius Caesar: The Gallic Wars - PowerPoint Presentation

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Julius Caesar:

The Gallic Wars

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Young

caesar

Gaius Julius Caesar was born in 100 BC

Targeted as a political opponent by dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla Forced to go in to hidingEventually joined the Roman Army

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Once captured by pirates and held for ransomPromised to crucify the men once he was freed

When freed, immediately sailed to find his captors, cut their throats and had them crucified

Caesar

Cont.

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Caesar continued to increase his rank as a military leader until his early forties

At this point, Caesar was forced to choose between politics and the military

Caesar’s choice would forever change the history of Rome.

Caesar Cont.

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Caesar Consulship

In 59 BC, Julius Caesar was elected as one of the two Consuls of Rome.

One year term

First Triumvirate

Caesar becomes allies with two of Rome’s most powerful men

Pompey- Rome’s most successful General

Crassus- Rome’s richest man

Crassus

Caesar

Pompey

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Post Consulship

Thanks to the Triumvirate, Caesar was given control over large portions of Northern Italy

Caesar used this to win military glory and to help pay off large debts.

For the next 6 to 8 years, Caesar would use his power to expand his rule in Gaul, Germany, and Britain.

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Alesia

(52 BC)

Tiring of Caesar’s expansion into Gaul, many Gallic tribes unite under

Vercingetorix Caesar knew that he must defeat Vercingetorix in order to end Gallic resistanceThe two would meet face to face at Alesia

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Led by Vercingetorix

, 70,000

Gauls

fortified themselves within the walls of the elevated city. Caesar, realizing that an attempted siege would result in the death of hundreds of his men, ordered his 45,000 men to blockade the city.Alesia (52 BC)

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Alesia (52 BC)

Unfortunately for Caesar, several Gallic cavalry snuck through the Roman lines

Gathered surrounding tribes to form a relief army

Caesar fortified his position

Now had to protect from attacks on both sides

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The relief army arrived at Alesia

with over 250,000 men and attacked the Romans

Simultaneously,

Vercingetorix attacked the Romans from the inner city The Gallic troops were less organized and struggled to traverse the Roman defenses Alesia

(52 BC)

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Aftermath

After 3 major attempts, the

Gauls

became surrounded by the Romans and began to scatterVercingetorix surrendered soon afterRomans- 12,800 Killed or WoundedGauls- 60,000-90,000 Killed40,000 Captured

Virtually ends Gaul’s ability to resist Romans

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Tension in the Triumvirate

Crassus and his son were killed in battle

Pompey’s wife (Caesar’s daughter) died during childbirth

Caesar offered his other daughter but Pompey declinedInstead he married a political opponent of CaesarPompey became Consul in 52 BC and was pressured into ordering the removal of legions from Caesar’s control

Crassus

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Caesar fears he will be persecuted by

Pompey if he returns to Rome

Instead, Caesar leads his legions across the Rubicon river into Italy

This begins a civil war in Rome Caesar’s Civil War (49—45 BC)

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Rubicon River- Official frontier line of Italy

Caesar’s Troops

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Caesar’s Civil War

Despite having a larger army, Pompey (and several senators) flees to Macedonia.

Caesar pursued but could not catch him

In Rome, Caesar was appointed dictator but resigned in hopes of tracking down PompeyCaesar leads his men to Spain and defeats Pompey’s military He then sets his eyes on finding Pompey in Greece

Fleeing Pompey

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Caesar's Civil War

Caesar faced Pompey again in Greece at Pharsalus

In a hard fought battle, Caesar was victorious despite being greatly outnumbered 2 to 1

Pompey Fled again to Egypt. Ptolemy XII (ruler of Egypt) had Pompey killed immediately

Fleeing Pompey…. Again

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Spending Some Quality time IN Egypt

Not realizing Pompey was dead, Caesar continued to Egypt

Once there, he became involved in an Egyptian feud over power between siblings

Cleopatra and Ptolemy Caesar sided with Cleopatra Afterwards he had a continuous affair (and a child) with Cleopatra

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Alexander the Great

Ptolemy I

Ptolemy XII

Cleopatra VII

Julius Caesar

Mark Antony

Ptolemy XIII

Alexander Helios

Caesarion

Cleopatra Selene II

Alexander Helios

One big Happy Family

Ptolemy XIII

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“

Veni

,

Vidi, Vici”After leaving Egypt Caesar continued to track down and destroy Pompey’s remaining forces

Major victories include

Thapsus – N Africa (46 BC)

Munda

– Spain (45 BC)

After these final victories, Caesar returned to Rome to retake his position as “dictator for life”

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Death of Caesar

March 15

th,

44 BCCaesar was to attend gladiatorial games at the Theatre of PompeyBefore arriving, he was stopped and encircled by a group of senators Marcus Junius Brutus

Gaius Cassius Longinus

Caesar was stabbed 23 times and laid dead under a statue of Pompey

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“Beware the Ides of March”

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Post Caesar Rome

Power assumed by the Second Triumvirate

Marc Antony

Military leader under Caesar Octavian Caesar’s 19 yr old Great Nephew and chosen heirLepidusCavalry commander

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Avenging Caesar

Antony and Octavian set out to find Brutus and Cassius

Both men committed suicide after losing significant battles

Shortly after, the Triumvirate agreed to separate the empire into 3 “spheres of influence”

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Collapse of the Triumvirate

Lepidus attempts to take legions from Octavian

Antony loses battles in the East and is forced to receive support from Cleopatra in Egypt

Despite being married to Octavian’s sister, Antony maintains a relationship with Cleopatra and has 3 childrenOctavian exposes Antony’s new allegiance to EgyptSenate declares war against Cleopatra

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Battle of Actium

(31 BC)

Antony and Cleopatra decided to launch a preemptive attack on Italy

Unfortunately, they only made it as far as Greece before being met by Octavian's fleetAntony’s fleet took refuge near Actium for several monthsFinally, Antony was urged by Cleopatra to return to EgyptWhen Octavian attempted to block Antony’s fleet, a battle ensued

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Aftermath

Antony and Cleopatra escape but their fleet is destroyed

As the Romans approached Egypt

Believing Cleopatra had already committed suicide, he stabs himselfBefore she could be executed by Octavian, she commits suicide by the bite of an aspEnds Rule of the Ptolemy’s in Egypt

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In Rome…

Octavian is left in sole command

Becomes first Roman Emperor (27 B.C.)

Has Julius Caesar’s son strangled Gains the title Augustus (“revered one”)Effectively ends Republicanism in RomeEnsures his power by relying on his full time professional armyDies in 14 C.E.

Begins 200 year

Pax

Romana

(Roman Peace)

Aftermath

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