Based on the vast amount of research done on Caesar’s life and legacy and the variety of scholarly perspectives that have emerged, it is safe to say that he was an astute politician, a military genius, a scheming opportunist, AND a visionary.
Caesar was able to gain much of his initial power because of his familial ties to the prestigious Julian clan. He climbed the political ladder from quaestor, to aedile, to praetor, to provincial governor, to consul, and eventually to ultimate dictator of Rome. His path to power was remarkably intuitive, which is indicative of an astute politician.
Scholars widely agree that Caesar was one of the greatest military geniuses of all time. Aside from his massive success during his time in Gaul, he was also successful in ending the Great Roman Civil War (49-45 BCE)—one of many conflicts that foreshadowed the end of the Republican political system. After the war, Caesar reached his peak in political power as Perpetual Dictator (Latin: Dictator perpetuo). Before this, dictatorship was only meant to be a temporary governing solution in times of crisis. But Caesar’s influence was so profound at this point that he was able to maintain that title for the rest of his life. This paved the way for the establishment of the Empire.
Needless to say, Caesar’s rise to power was fraught with controversy. Many other politicians perceived him as a scheming opportunist who disrespected the traditional political system by altering it to suit his own agenda—which ultimately led to his assassination.
Be that as it may, Caesar’s opportunism did not undermine him as a visionary. He knew Rome was in desperate need of debt relief and reform, and he took whatever measures necessary to make those improvements. He was widely loved by the Roman people, especially those from the lower and middle classes who directly benefitted from his influence. In addition, Caesar was the first Roman figure to be deified, which indicates how profound his leadership was!
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