Caesar's life changed completely after that fateful speech made during her wife's funeral. The following year she married another woman named Pompeia, but continued to have a libertine lifestyle by lying with beautiful women and men, who courted her and for this she was harshly criticized by many aristocrats who saw her as a threat to Roman traditions; Caesar, however, was protected by the two most powerful men in Rome: Pompey and Crassus.
Knowing that she had the richest man and the most powerful leader in Rome on her side, Caesar didn't have too many scruples in lying with married men, often veterans, and with women wives of rich men such as Postumia, Lollia, Tertulla and Mucia. It was fun for her to break traditions, but above all she loved provoking her enemies.
Cicero made fun of Caesar by calling her 'best husband for wives, best wife for husbands'. The same poet Catullus, who hated Caesar, used to say that she went to bed with children for leisure; many reactionaries called her the 'Divine Whore of Rome' or even 'White Prostitute', but jeers and slanders failed to stop her rise to power.
The young woman, in addition to a very active sex life, also became very popular among the masses, creating not a little discomfort in the Senate.
Caesar went to Spain where she earned the love of the people after freeing the poorest from the tax burdens imposed by the aristocrats, with this maneuver she made sure to be supported even outside Rome. Before returning home, Caesar visited Gades, a city in Spain, where a statue of Alexander the Great had been built. Seeing that monument, the girl fell to the ground in tears and her friends asked her, worried:
"Why are you crying, Caesar? It's just a statue."
"It's not just a statue. It's a weight on my back." Caesar answered. "That man was younger than me when he began to conquer nations, while I, after all this time, have not yet achieved anything remarkable. I've not yet been able to realize my dreams."
"Why not ask the Gods for help? You are descended from Venus and Mars, they will surely listen to you."
"Never."
"I will change the world with my hands. I will surpass Alexander the Great in greatness and everyone will remember me. History must never forget my name."
Caesar's clear and direct response left her friends speechless.
Back in Rome, Caesar decided to offer her help to Pompey and thus approved the Lex Gabinia with which he guaranteed greater powers in the fight against piracy. The fame of Caesar increased considerably in Rome and this was disturbing the aristocrats who, helpless, didn't know how to put an end to her success.
63 BC
Caesar, a libertine girl, seen as a threat to Roman traditions, was nominated to be pontiff maximum, something that scandalized the Roman nobles. Being pontiff meant becoming guardians of Roman law but above all it meant deeply influencing Roman culture; Caesar was an Epicurean and therefore she didn't believe in the importance of religious rites, divinities and clerical offices but nevertheless she agreed to compete in the elections in order to more easily influence public opinion; after all she was aware of the fact that the majority of Romans were believers. Using religion to her own advantage would surely have benefited her.
The aristocrats, to stop Caesar, nominated two of their faction: Quintus Lutatius Catulus and Publius Servilius Vatia Isauricus who were already very powerful. Caesar would never have managed to win against opponents who had the support of the most influential men in Rome; so Marcus Licinius Crassus came to her help and gave her enough money to corrupt the electorate and win in the elections. Caesar became pontiff maximum and inflicted a heavy defeat on the aristocrats.
In the same year Lucius Sergius Catilina organized a conspiracy against the Senate but was discovered by Marco Tullio Cicerone. The failed conspiracy of Catiline subsequently led to the latter's trial; soon the investigations to find out who had collaborated with that man also began and the names of Crassus and Caesar came out, the aristocrats, of course, took the opportunity to accuse the girl of wanting to conspire against the Senate and want to destroy the Roman institutions.
Caesar knew that those very serious accusations would've ruined her career, and so she asked Cicero for help, she said that she was not aware of Catiline's conspiracy and that she had been framed by her enemies, so Cicero agreed to defend her.
Knowing that she had the richest man and the most powerful leader in Rome on her side, Caesar didn't have too many scruples in lying with married men, often veterans, and with women wives of rich men such as Postumia, Lollia, Tertulla and Mucia. It was fun for her to break traditions, but above all she loved provoking her enemies.
Cicero made fun of Caesar by calling her 'best husband for wives, best wife for husbands'. The same poet Catullus, who hated Caesar, used to say that she went to bed with children for leisure; many reactionaries called her the 'Divine Whore of Rome' or even 'White Prostitute', but jeers and slanders failed to stop her rise to power.
The young woman, in addition to a very active sex life, also became very popular among the masses, creating not a little discomfort in the Senate.
Caesar went to Spain where she earned the love of the people after freeing the poorest from the tax burdens imposed by the aristocrats, with this maneuver she made sure to be supported even outside Rome. Before returning home, Caesar visited Gades, a city in Spain, where a statue of Alexander the Great had been built. Seeing that monument, the girl fell to the ground in tears and her friends asked her, worried:
"Why are you crying, Caesar? It's just a statue."
"It's not just a statue. It's a weight on my back." Caesar answered. "That man was younger than me when he began to conquer nations, while I, after all this time, have not yet achieved anything remarkable. I've not yet been able to realize my dreams."
"Why not ask the Gods for help? You are descended from Venus and Mars, they will surely listen to you."
"Never."
"I will change the world with my hands. I will surpass Alexander the Great in greatness and everyone will remember me. History must never forget my name."
Caesar's clear and direct response left her friends speechless.
Back in Rome, Caesar decided to offer her help to Pompey and thus approved the Lex Gabinia with which he guaranteed greater powers in the fight against piracy. The fame of Caesar increased considerably in Rome and this was disturbing the aristocrats who, helpless, didn't know how to put an end to her success.
63 BC
Caesar, a libertine girl, seen as a threat to Roman traditions, was nominated to be pontiff maximum, something that scandalized the Roman nobles. Being pontiff meant becoming guardians of Roman law but above all it meant deeply influencing Roman culture; Caesar was an Epicurean and therefore she didn't believe in the importance of religious rites, divinities and clerical offices but nevertheless she agreed to compete in the elections in order to more easily influence public opinion; after all she was aware of the fact that the majority of Romans were believers. Using religion to her own advantage would surely have benefited her.
The aristocrats, to stop Caesar, nominated two of their faction: Quintus Lutatius Catulus and Publius Servilius Vatia Isauricus who were already very powerful. Caesar would never have managed to win against opponents who had the support of the most influential men in Rome; so Marcus Licinius Crassus came to her help and gave her enough money to corrupt the electorate and win in the elections. Caesar became pontiff maximum and inflicted a heavy defeat on the aristocrats.
In the same year Lucius Sergius Catilina organized a conspiracy against the Senate but was discovered by Marco Tullio Cicerone. The failed conspiracy of Catiline subsequently led to the latter's trial; soon the investigations to find out who had collaborated with that man also began and the names of Crassus and Caesar came out, the aristocrats, of course, took the opportunity to accuse the girl of wanting to conspire against the Senate and want to destroy the Roman institutions.
Caesar knew that those very serious accusations would've ruined her career, and so she asked Cicero for help, she said that she was not aware of Catiline's conspiracy and that she had been framed by her enemies, so Cicero agreed to defend her.
The Senate was convened to initiate the Catiline trial. All the major exponents of Roman politics, the people who would change the history of Rome forever, showed up: Cicero, Crassus, Pompey, Cato the Younger and of course Caesar. Cicero, the most famous lawyer in Rome, the most praised intellectual and the most widely read Stoic philosopher, began his speech against Catiline:
"How long will you abuse our patience, Catiline? How long will this reckless conduct of yours escape us? To what extremes will your unbridled daring go? Your plots are uncovered, don't you realize? Can't you see that yours Is a conspiracy known to everyone? What you did last night and the previous night, where did you go, which accomplices you summoned, what decisions did you make, do you think there is only one among us who is not informed? In Italy, in the valleys of Etruria , there is an encampment there stationed against the Roman people; the number of enemies increases day by day and the leader of that army, the leader of those enemies is here, intent on plotting against the Republic. And therefore, Catiline, what are you still waiting for?" Cicero asked pointing his finger at Catiline. "Change your intentions, listen to me, desist from the massacre, from the fires: you're watched over on every side, your plans are more evident than the light of day. Or go, Catiline, carry out the enterprise : get out of the city once and for all; the doors are wide open. Purify the city. You will take away a great fear from my heart when there is a wall between you and me. To stay still between us, no, you cannot: I will not bear it, not I will allow it, I will not tolerate it. You're a sinister demon, an enemy of the Republic, you and your sinister accomplices still hidden in the shadows. You will be punished, Catiline, for the sin you have committed against Rome, against our gods who protect us and against our great protector Romulus."
After Cicero's speech, which was praised and considered among the best of the speaker, the Senate condemned Catiline with the charge of treason but what punishment would he have to suffer?
Caesar was against the death penalty and said about it:
"That man in front of you, Catiline, is guilty, yes, but killing him would make us just like him and we are not. We are better than that man, we're rational people and we punish crimes with justice. That man tried to attack the Senate but his plans failed, so killing a man who hasn't caused any harm is excessive. We punish with justice not revenge. Deprive him of his possessions, his home and his money and exile him from Rome forever, this is more than a human punishment, much better than condemning him to death. "
"Of course you say this," Cato asserted, sitting next to her.
"If you have something to say, just say it, Cato, I'll listen to you," said Caesar, annoyed by the man's contemptuous tone.
Cato stood up.
"This woman has repeatedly violated the traditions handed down by our fathers. She's married but lives by emulating the customs of the Orientals, whom we know that in addition to being shameless they are also clearly inferior to us; this woman has occupied political positions intended for men contravening our laws thanks to the help of Marcus Licinius Crassus and her witch charm. Now, she protects a man, Catiline, whom we know, because we have the list with the names of the accomplices who helped him to implement the conspiracy, to be a friend of hers. In other words, this woman who bears the name of a man and who acts like a man tried to attack our Republic, she tried to kill us all just to satisfy her personal desires. Caesar wants Catiline to stay alive, because she's an accomplice of that criminal. She and that villain Crassus! "
"You're mad, Cato, completely mad," Crassus commented.
"Do you want to make me believe that you don't aspire to absolute power? Don't make me laugh, we both know that you're practically like a gluttonous pig. In addition to money you're also looking for control of Rome and you got help from this woman-"
"How long will you abuse our patience, Catiline? How long will this reckless conduct of yours escape us? To what extremes will your unbridled daring go? Your plots are uncovered, don't you realize? Can't you see that yours Is a conspiracy known to everyone? What you did last night and the previous night, where did you go, which accomplices you summoned, what decisions did you make, do you think there is only one among us who is not informed? In Italy, in the valleys of Etruria , there is an encampment there stationed against the Roman people; the number of enemies increases day by day and the leader of that army, the leader of those enemies is here, intent on plotting against the Republic. And therefore, Catiline, what are you still waiting for?" Cicero asked pointing his finger at Catiline. "Change your intentions, listen to me, desist from the massacre, from the fires: you're watched over on every side, your plans are more evident than the light of day. Or go, Catiline, carry out the enterprise : get out of the city once and for all; the doors are wide open. Purify the city. You will take away a great fear from my heart when there is a wall between you and me. To stay still between us, no, you cannot: I will not bear it, not I will allow it, I will not tolerate it. You're a sinister demon, an enemy of the Republic, you and your sinister accomplices still hidden in the shadows. You will be punished, Catiline, for the sin you have committed against Rome, against our gods who protect us and against our great protector Romulus."
After Cicero's speech, which was praised and considered among the best of the speaker, the Senate condemned Catiline with the charge of treason but what punishment would he have to suffer?
Caesar was against the death penalty and said about it:
"That man in front of you, Catiline, is guilty, yes, but killing him would make us just like him and we are not. We are better than that man, we're rational people and we punish crimes with justice. That man tried to attack the Senate but his plans failed, so killing a man who hasn't caused any harm is excessive. We punish with justice not revenge. Deprive him of his possessions, his home and his money and exile him from Rome forever, this is more than a human punishment, much better than condemning him to death. "
"Of course you say this," Cato asserted, sitting next to her.
"If you have something to say, just say it, Cato, I'll listen to you," said Caesar, annoyed by the man's contemptuous tone.
Cato stood up.
"This woman has repeatedly violated the traditions handed down by our fathers. She's married but lives by emulating the customs of the Orientals, whom we know that in addition to being shameless they are also clearly inferior to us; this woman has occupied political positions intended for men contravening our laws thanks to the help of Marcus Licinius Crassus and her witch charm. Now, she protects a man, Catiline, whom we know, because we have the list with the names of the accomplices who helped him to implement the conspiracy, to be a friend of hers. In other words, this woman who bears the name of a man and who acts like a man tried to attack our Republic, she tried to kill us all just to satisfy her personal desires. Caesar wants Catiline to stay alive, because she's an accomplice of that criminal. She and that villain Crassus! "
"You're mad, Cato, completely mad," Crassus commented.
"Do you want to make me believe that you don't aspire to absolute power? Don't make me laugh, we both know that you're practically like a gluttonous pig. In addition to money you're also looking for control of Rome and you got help from this woman-"
A messenger entered and approached Caesar and gave her a note. Caesar read the note in silence and Cato exclaimed:
"What are you doing now? Are you taking instructions from the enemy? Are you plotting to kill us all? Where did you put the soldiers? Answer, woman!"
Caesar gave the note to Cato, he read it ... it was a love letter dedicated to her, written by Servilia, Cato's younger sister. The man, enraged, returned the letter to Caesar exclaiming:
"Here, wretch! And stop bothering me with your nonsense! Damn libertine!"
Cicero spoke out in defense of Caesar and said:
"Cato to get us the list of names was Lucius Vettius, who was himself an accomplice of Catiline. What makes you believe that it was not a farce to frame Caesar? We're all aware that that girl is singular and that it is a sign of change here in Rome but this does not mean that she is an enemy of the Republic, on the contrary, she has served Rome with fidelity several times. Your accusations are not founded."
"Have you been seduced by his charm too, Cicero, or are you simply blind?"
"You are really annoying, Cato," Caesar commented with a bored manner.
"Be quiet, woman!" Cato exclaimed.
"Shut me up, then!" Caesar answered, standing up and looking Cato straight in his eyes. "Dare to touch me with a single finger and I will make you a woman. I survived the injustices of Sulla and I will survive even those of a failed politician like you."
At that moment Cato's bodyguards got angry, drew their swords and approached Caesar with the intention of killing her but Cato stopped them screaming:
"No. Stop!"
The guards calmed down and Cato turned to the girl:
"You say you're innocent, all right, I believe you. But then you will have to accept Catiline's death."
"I hope you're joking."
"No. If you want him alive then it means that you're an accomplice to him, but if you are truly innocent then you will have to vote in favor of the death penalty."
Catiline's trial ended in a few months, he was not sentenced to death and was exiled, but he met death on the battlefield.
"What are you doing now? Are you taking instructions from the enemy? Are you plotting to kill us all? Where did you put the soldiers? Answer, woman!"
Caesar gave the note to Cato, he read it ... it was a love letter dedicated to her, written by Servilia, Cato's younger sister. The man, enraged, returned the letter to Caesar exclaiming:
"Here, wretch! And stop bothering me with your nonsense! Damn libertine!"
Cicero spoke out in defense of Caesar and said:
"Cato to get us the list of names was Lucius Vettius, who was himself an accomplice of Catiline. What makes you believe that it was not a farce to frame Caesar? We're all aware that that girl is singular and that it is a sign of change here in Rome but this does not mean that she is an enemy of the Republic, on the contrary, she has served Rome with fidelity several times. Your accusations are not founded."
"Have you been seduced by his charm too, Cicero, or are you simply blind?"
"You are really annoying, Cato," Caesar commented with a bored manner.
"Be quiet, woman!" Cato exclaimed.
"Shut me up, then!" Caesar answered, standing up and looking Cato straight in his eyes. "Dare to touch me with a single finger and I will make you a woman. I survived the injustices of Sulla and I will survive even those of a failed politician like you."
At that moment Cato's bodyguards got angry, drew their swords and approached Caesar with the intention of killing her but Cato stopped them screaming:
"No. Stop!"
The guards calmed down and Cato turned to the girl:
"You say you're innocent, all right, I believe you. But then you will have to accept Catiline's death."
"I hope you're joking."
"No. If you want him alive then it means that you're an accomplice to him, but if you are truly innocent then you will have to vote in favor of the death penalty."
Catiline's trial ended in a few months, he was not sentenced to death and was exiled, but he met death on the battlefield.
