The Young Julius Caesar Chronicles

-Julius Caesar came from a patrician family, but they had recently fallen on hard times.
   -Grew up far from the Palatine Hill where all the fat cats of Rome lived.
      -Therefore, as a politician, Caesar identified with the common folk due to his roots.
         -Also, he had familial connections with Marius, as his aunt, Julia, had been his wife (and was very well-respected by the Roman people).
-Caesar's father died suddenly when he was 16, so as the oldest male of his household he was considered the head of the family.
   -Due to his family being close with Marius, when Marius and Cinna were running the city he attained the office of the high priest of Jupiter.
      -He was also wed to Cinna's daughter, Cornelia.  However, when Sulla took over the city he was forced to flee.
         -Eventually however, Sulla chilled out and allowed for Caesar to return to Rome.
-80 BC- nervous that Sulla would change his mind, Caesar went into the military, and eventually went to work for the praetor/propraetor of Asia, Marcus Minucius Thermus.
   -After some time he went on to Rhodes, where he was educated in the Greek art of rhetoric by Aulus Licinius Archias, a Greek poet.
      -On his way back to Rome he was kidnapped by pirates for ransom.  Later, after he was freed, he went back, captured all of them, and had them crucified.
-73 BC- when he returned to Rome he became a high priest again, but was soon elected military tribune.
-69 BC- elected qaestor in Hispania and was really loved by everyone.
   -He was stern, fair, just, gave everyone an equal opportunity, was a populist, but he also made sure to not alienate the rich as well.
      -Also traveled along the Mediterranean in Gaul as well, gaining support from the common folk living under Roman rule there.
-Continued to move up the political ranks, and along the way borrowed lots of money to fund a wide variety of public works projects- festivals, games, etc.
   -Also gained the attention of Crassus, who soon became his ally.
-63 BC- ran for the office of Pontifex Maximus (high priest of Rome).
   -Soon ran for praetor.
   -During this time he also recognized the need for additional powerful friends (besides just Crassus), so he befriended Pompey and promised to support his wars in exchange for a political alliance.
-Caesar was then named as proconsular governor of the province of Hispania Ulterior (southern Spain).
   -Still needed to do something about his mounting debts, so he picked a fight with some local barbarian tribes (the Gallaeci and Lusitani) to unlock their silver mines, and also had help from Crassus concerning money.
-The Senate was now terrified of Caesar returning and possibly getting the consulship because he was wildly popular with the masses and had powerful friends (not to mention being a big ol' liberal!).
   -Cato the Younger, a conservative champion of the Senate and the status quo, proposed to delay Caesar's candidacy.
      -Did a bunch of filibustering and shit to try and prevent Caesar from entering the city.
         -Of course, this didn't work, and Caesar was elected consul in 59 BC.