istoryworld
Events relating to italy
To escape from Italy Caesar joins the army, and serves in Asia with distinction (winning the Civic Crown for courage in action)
Cicero, whose speeches become models of oratory, makes his first appearance in a Roman court
Sulla dies and Caesar returns to Rome, taking up a legal career as an advocate
To improve his skills as an orator, Julius Caesar travels to Rhodes to study with Cicero's teacher, Apollonius Molon
Julius Caesar, captured by pirates on his way to Rhodes, warns them that he will crucify them - and later keeps his word
A rebellion by Spartacus and other slaves from a gladiators' training camp at Capua lasts for two years before it is suppressed
Julius Caesar's wife, Cornelia Cinna, dies
Julius Caesar marries Pompeia, a granddaughter of Sulla and a distant relative of Pompey
Caesar is elected Pontifex Maximus, the chief priest of the Roman state religion
An unproven rumour about Pompeia causes Caesar to divorce her on the grounds that 'Caesar's wife must be above suspicion'
Caesar's numerous creditors prevent him leaving Rome until the immensely wealthy Marcus Licinius Crassus stands bail for some of his debts
Back in Rome, Caesar stands in the election to become one of the two consuls for the year 59, and wins
Julius Caesar persuades Pompey and Crassus to join him in a political alliance to their mutual advantage, known now as the first triumvirate
The alliance between Pompey and Caesar is sealed when Pompey marries Caesar's only daughter, Julia
Caesar and Pompey use violence and intimidation to force through the senate a bill giving public land to retired soldiers (with Pompey's men at the head of the queue)
At the end of his year as consul, Caesar travels north to become governor of northern Italy and southern France
The death of Crassus at Carrhae brings to an end the first triumvirate
Gladiators have metal studs on their boxing gloves, and a public bout is expected to go on until the loser dies
The senate, controlled by Pompey and his faction, orders Caesar to disband his army and return to Rome
Julius Caesar crosses the river Rubicon (the southern boundary of Gaul) with his army – and in doing so launches a civil war
Pompey flees from Rome at the approach of Caesar, and boards a ship at Brindisi to sail eastwards
Julius Caesar moves fast to drive Pompey's supporters from Italy and to crush forces loyal to him in Spain
Julius Caesar defeats his rival Pompey at Pharsalus, in Greece, and makes himself master of the Roman world
Cleopatra gives birth to a son and calls him Ptolemy XV Caesar (later known by the nickname Caesarion)
Julius Caesar leaves Alexandria to travel with his army by the land route back to Italy, through Turkey
