Julius Caesar was born in 100 BCE in Subbura, Rome, Italy. His mother was Aurelia and his father was Gaius Julius Caesar. Julius had been born into an important family. Julius’s father, Gaius Julius Caesar, had a sister, Julia, who was married to the ruler of Rome at the time, Gaius Marius. Gaius Marius used populist tactics to rule. Historians are unsure exactly what the term “populist” means, but they think a populist is someone who uses a People’s Assembly (a group of ordinary citizens who make decisions). The opposite of a populist is an optimate who uses a Senate (elected representatives). When Julius was still a baby, Gaius Marius lost his popularity in Rome. He went to Asia Minor and Greece. While he was away, in the year of 92 BCE, Julius’s father was elected to be a praetor (someone whose main job was the administration of justice). In 91 BCE, Julius’s father became a governor in Asia Minor. This happened when Julius was 8. In 86 BCE, Gaius Marius massacred all his enemies. It is said that from that point on, Julius Caesar’s life was in danger because of his relation to Gaius Marius. Gaius Marius died from natural causes later in 86 BCE. |  Ancient Rome |
