Professor Catherine Steel

But Caesar's own immediate family are not politically active, politically successful, and his father dies relatively young when Caesar is a teenager. So he doesn't have quite the heft of some of the really big political families in terms of immediate access. On the other hand, his mother Aurelia...

But Caesar's own immediate family are not politically active, politically successful, and his father dies relatively young when Caesar is a teenager. So he doesn't have quite the heft of some of the really big political families in terms of immediate access. On the other hand, his mother Aurelia...

But Caesar's own immediate family are not politically active, politically successful, and his father dies relatively young when Caesar is a teenager. So he doesn't have quite the heft of some of the really big political families in terms of immediate access. On the other hand, his mother Aurelia...

who comes from a plebeian gens, but one that has been politically successful, is looking quite promising. And in fact, three men who may be his uncles, or they may be cousins of his mother, hold a consulship in the 70s BC. So it's not a negligible force. He's born within the political aristocracy. He's born from an ancient family.

who comes from a plebeian gens, but one that has been politically successful, is looking quite promising. And in fact, three men who may be his uncles, or they may be cousins of his mother, hold a consulship in the 70s BC. So it's not a negligible force. He's born within the political aristocracy. He's born from an ancient family.

who comes from a plebeian gens, but one that has been politically successful, is looking quite promising. And in fact, three men who may be his uncles, or they may be cousins of his mother, hold a consulship in the 70s BC. So it's not a negligible force. He's born within the political aristocracy. He's born from an ancient family.

And at the time at which he's born, of course, the dominant figure on the political landscape is Gaius Marius, who so happens to be married to Julius Caesar's aunt.

And at the time at which he's born, of course, the dominant figure on the political landscape is Gaius Marius, who so happens to be married to Julius Caesar's aunt.

And at the time at which he's born, of course, the dominant figure on the political landscape is Gaius Marius, who so happens to be married to Julius Caesar's aunt.

One of the interesting things is the existence of that marriage because Marius himself is a new man. And it's an interesting indication that Caesar's grandfather clearly spotted talent and ability in this new man and decided he would be a good match for his daughter. And that connection with Marius is quite important to Caesar.

One of the interesting things is the existence of that marriage because Marius himself is a new man. And it's an interesting indication that Caesar's grandfather clearly spotted talent and ability in this new man and decided he would be a good match for his daughter. And that connection with Marius is quite important to Caesar.

One of the interesting things is the existence of that marriage because Marius himself is a new man. And it's an interesting indication that Caesar's grandfather clearly spotted talent and ability in this new man and decided he would be a good match for his daughter. And that connection with Marius is quite important to Caesar.

And Caesar makes quite a lot of this as he begins to develop his political career.

And Caesar makes quite a lot of this as he begins to develop his political career.

And Caesar makes quite a lot of this as he begins to develop his political career.

Probably not. Early mortality is such a ubiquitous feature of the ancient world that Roman law was pretty well able to deal with these kinds of things. In legal terms, it meant that Caesar was not under his paternal authority, but mechanisms would be in place to manage his property. And law of property and inheritance is pretty keen on agnatic relationships, relationships in the male line.

Probably not. Early mortality is such a ubiquitous feature of the ancient world that Roman law was pretty well able to deal with these kinds of things. In legal terms, it meant that Caesar was not under his paternal authority, but mechanisms would be in place to manage his property. And law of property and inheritance is pretty keen on agnatic relationships, relationships in the male line.

Probably not. Early mortality is such a ubiquitous feature of the ancient world that Roman law was pretty well able to deal with these kinds of things. In legal terms, it meant that Caesar was not under his paternal authority, but mechanisms would be in place to manage his property. And law of property and inheritance is pretty keen on agnatic relationships, relationships in the male line.

And I suspect that insofar as Caesar as a 14-year-old, 15-year-old was beginning to think about his political career, the death of his father was a blow because it removed a supporter, somebody who could advocate for him, who might himself hold high office that could promote him. But the wider network of friends and relations and property was still intact.

And I suspect that insofar as Caesar as a 14-year-old, 15-year-old was beginning to think about his political career, the death of his father was a blow because it removed a supporter, somebody who could advocate for him, who might himself hold high office that could promote him. But the wider network of friends and relations and property was still intact.