This is just guessing from me but I imagine it was Caesar’s way of trying to undermine Sulla. He was a relation of Marius and as we know from later life was a staunch populare. He was also obviously and adept political operator at a very young age with an acute understanding of the Roman pantheon. I’d say it was a way for him, as one of the last Marian supporters left in Rome, to do what he could to open gaps in Sulla’s armour for the rest of the Populares to exploit. Using the gods as a shield in order to prove that just because Sulla was in power, didn’t mean Sulla was all powerful. In my mind it would help give all who opposed Sulla and his regime a small glimmer of hope and motivation to keep up their opposition.
I feel a large part of it was he just took marriage by confarreatio as seriously as it was meant to be. We often think of Caesar in much more radical terms because of the civil war and its aftermath. But before than he had followed the cursus honorum as it was meant to be and he mostly stayed true to the mos maiorum. Especially compared to other contemporaries such as Pompey.
Well said! if you haven’t read it already, I highly recommend Julius Caesar and the Roman People by Robert Morstein-Marx. Your comment echoes his thesis that Caesar was in many ways a highly conventional politician (albeit a very successful one) who was committed to upholding Republican norms
My theory is that through his defiance, he had manipulated Sulla into removing Caesar from his post as Flamen Dialis, which allowed him to pursue a military career and thus rise up the Cursus Honorum. Marius had appointed him to this post to close off this path to Caesar, because he recognized Caesar's genius and thus a potential threat. The reason why his role as the Flamen Dialis prevented his political advancement was because of the very idea of touching any iron weapon or implement was a taboo for every Flamen Dialis. This alone would've prevented Caesar from using military service a spring-board to higher political office.
I like to imagine a younger, naive, and more romantic Caesar simply doing it for love as so many young men do. And Sulla, a more confident older dictator that saw through Caesar simply relented, as seeing no ambitions from the young boy at the time (considering he did just throw away his future and whole life for love) did not see any reason to further ruin a young romance when it really didn't affect him all that much.
To be honest, Sulla was pretty chill compared to the three days of blood Marius brought to rome with his mercenaries Cinna's soldiers killed at night in a theatre. I'm not convinced Old Marius just died after that bloodbath. I bet he got killed with poison by Cinna, Carbo and Norbanus.
caesar was always deeply religious and so i dont think he would see such an affront to the gods as conceivable. its so strange and funny that of all people who sulla could have let go, it was the man whose name would last thousands of years
It is fruitless to speculate about Caesar's motivations. Man was not neurotypical and clearly to the benefit of his military political acumen. One can only marvel at the confusion of neurons from which emerged his inscrutable talent.
He loved her deeply, she was truly his muse.He was young,rebellious,ambitious, bold and faithful to the gods nobody will tell him what to do,more or less some bloodthirsty polemarch like Sulla(he had also his good attributes,but what he did with the tribunes and his perception on the plebians that "they" should always be cannon fodder for the patricians really makes him quite narrow minded).
Why do you believe that Caesar REALLY refused to divorce Cornelia?
Conferatio
She was cool about him having affairs with half of Rome and he didn't know if the next wife would be as relaxed about monogamy
He was Caesar, he never gave in.
This is just guessing from me but I imagine it was Caesar’s way of trying to undermine Sulla. He was a relation of Marius and as we know from later life was a staunch populare. He was also obviously and adept political operator at a very young age with an acute understanding of the Roman pantheon. I’d say it was a way for him, as one of the last Marian supporters left in Rome, to do what he could to open gaps in Sulla’s armour for the rest of the Populares to exploit. Using the gods as a shield in order to prove that just because Sulla was in power, didn’t mean Sulla was all powerful. In my mind it would help give all who opposed Sulla and his regime a small glimmer of hope and motivation to keep up their opposition.
Because that would mean submitting to another man, real Romans don't do that.
I feel a large part of it was he just took marriage by confarreatio as seriously as it was meant to be. We often think of Caesar in much more radical terms because of the civil war and its aftermath. But before than he had followed the cursus honorum as it was meant to be and he mostly stayed true to the mos maiorum. Especially compared to other contemporaries such as Pompey.
Well said! if you haven’t read it already, I highly recommend Julius Caesar and the Roman People by Robert Morstein-Marx. Your comment echoes his thesis that Caesar was in many ways a highly conventional politician (albeit a very successful one) who was committed to upholding Republican norms
Would love more content on the young caesar
Ask and you will receive
Great video again. Do you mind sharing where you get all the paintings from?
Thanks!
I've found all of thee on Google! it takes a bit of digging but there are many great classical works out there for fair use.
My theory is that through his defiance, he had manipulated Sulla into removing Caesar from his post as Flamen Dialis, which allowed him to pursue a military career and thus rise up the Cursus Honorum. Marius had appointed him to this post to close off this path to Caesar, because he recognized Caesar's genius and thus a potential threat. The reason why his role as the Flamen Dialis prevented his political advancement was because of the very idea of touching any iron weapon or implement was a taboo for every Flamen Dialis. This alone would've prevented Caesar from using military service a spring-board to higher political office.
I like to imagine a younger, naive, and more romantic Caesar simply doing it for love as so many young men do. And Sulla, a more confident older dictator that saw through Caesar simply relented, as seeing no ambitions from the young boy at the time (considering he did just throw away his future and whole life for love) did not see any reason to further ruin a young romance when it really didn't affect him all that much.
THanks for sharing - does a great job contextualizing Sulla
Thanks!
Another excellent video, thanks for sharing
Glad you enjoyed it
Well done
Thank you!
love the shorts and videos you have been putting out great stuff
Thanks so much that means the world to us (and thanks for commenting to boost the channel)
Great video!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
The bust next to Sulla at 1:17 is Tiberius, no?
It is
Well, doesn`t the fact that he was in the end seen "as not worth the trouble" not really make him "Rome`s Most Wanted"?
Haha fair point
To be honest, Sulla was pretty chill compared to the three days of blood Marius brought to rome with his mercenaries Cinna's soldiers killed at night in a theatre. I'm not convinced Old Marius just died after that bloodbath. I bet he got killed with poison by Cinna, Carbo and Norbanus.
I think it was a mixture of all of the above. Love for his wife, deference to the Gods, and political savvy.
I guess Sulla's catchphrase is wrong. He never repaid Caeser in full.
caesar was always deeply religious and so i dont think he would see such an affront to the gods as conceivable. its so strange and funny that of all people who sulla could have let go, it was the man whose name would last thousands of years
Fun speculation
obstinate
It is fruitless to speculate about Caesar's motivations. Man was not neurotypical and clearly to the benefit of his military political acumen. One can only marvel at the confusion of neurons from which emerged his inscrutable talent.
weaponized autism (roman edition)
wow “Hymen Oh Hymeneé” by Juan Luna @ 6:55
He loved her deeply, she was truly his muse.He was young,rebellious,ambitious, bold and faithful to the gods nobody will tell him what to do,more or less some bloodthirsty polemarch like Sulla(he had also his good attributes,but what he did with the tribunes and his perception on the plebians that "they" should always be cannon fodder for the patricians really makes him quite narrow minded).