10 Most Obscure Facts About Julius Caesar You’ve Never Heard

Over the course of the Roman empire, there were many Emperors that we remember. Caligula and Nero among others may steal the limelight with their debauched behaviour but Julius Caesar deserves a mention. Caesar was a superb politician and brave General who became one of the truly great Emperors. His achievements were so great that many other languages used a variation on his name to mean ruler!

But there’s more to this storied figure than what mainstream history often reveals. This list aims to shine a light on obscure facets of Caesar’s life. Beyond his well-known victories and political manoeuvres, there are lesser-known tales that paint a more complex portrait of the man who has become a near-mythical figure in our collective consciousness.

Caesar was one bad ass dude – after conquering a country, he famously gazed across the battlefield and said ‘I came, I saw, I conquered’! As befits such a key historical figure we already know quite a lot about him. But here are a few facts that you may not know about the man who had a whole month of the year named after him (July if you were wondering).

So, let’s explore together these ten obscure facts about Julius Caesar. As we delve into this exploration, we’re not just uncovering trivia; we’re gaining a deeper understanding of a figure who shaped the world in ways that continue to resonate with us today.

10 – He Wasn’t Born By C Section

Many historians believed that Caesar was born by caesarean section. Born in 100 B.C., many thought that he was given the name based on how he was delivered. It would seem this was quite unlikely though as these operations were usually fatal to the mother in ancient times. It is doubtful that Roman doctors would have risked the life of Caesars mother in such a way. Instead, it is more likely he got his name from an ancestor on his mother’s side of the family.

09 – He Was Once Captured By Pirates

Long before becoming emperor, Caesar was a restless young man. In his mid-twenties, he decided to go to Rhodes to study with Apollonius. Apollonius was a famed scholar and had produced many fine students including Roman historian Cicero. On the way to Rhodes though, Caesar’s ship was attacked by pirates and he was captured. After being released when his ransom was paid, Caesar went straight back with a group of men to hunt the pirates down!

08 – He Once Had To Flee For His Life

In 84 B.C., Caesar married his first wife who was called Cornelia. Trouble soon followed however when an enemy of his father-in-law called Sulla rose to prominence in Rome. Sulla ordered Caesar to divorce Cornelia to show his loyalty which Caesar refused. Fearing for his life, he had to go on the run to escape and was only allowed back to Rome when influential friends talked to Sulla for him.

07 – He Had A Son With Cleopatra

In truth, Caesar was a real ladies man! Married a total of 3 times, he also enjoyed numerous affairs as well. One of these flings was with famous Egyptian beauty and ruler, Cleopatra. This got even more complicated when Cleopatra started to see another Roman general, Mark Anthony, behind his back! What is interesting is that the affair between Caesar and Cleopatra produced a son. Known as Caesarion (and later Ptolemy XV), he would go on to rule Egypt with his mother and then alone before being killed by Roman emperor Octavian.

06 – He Made Up The Leap Year

When Caesar was growing up, the standard Roman calendar was only 355 days long. This was totally out of synch with the solar cycle and led to much confusion each year. When in power, he rectified this by introducing the Julian calendar which mirrored the Earth’s solar cycle. There was just one problem – the Julian calendar was 365 days long per year while the exact lunar cycle was 365 days and a quarter! To make up the difference, he put an extra day in the calendar every four years!

05 – When Killed Only Blow Was Fatal

The murder of Julius Caesar is perhaps the most famous event in Roman history. An uprising against his rule saw a band of disgruntled senators stab him 23 times to kill him. What is interesting is that, of all the 23 wounds, only 1 was fatal! The doctor who examined Caesar at the time actually ruled that he died mainly because of blood loss, rather than a combination of fatal blows.

04 – He Was Not To Be Messed With

This sort of goes with the territory when you are first a Roman solider then Emperor! Although not as completely mental as someone like Caligula, Caesar was still no pushover. Examples of this are many like the time a tribe surrendered to his army as a ploy before launching a surprise attack. After quelling the rebellion, he sold all 53,000 remaining tribe members into slavery as a punishment. Another famous exploit was building a second wall around a city he was besieging to keep anyone from escaping the onslaught.

03 – His Murderer Almost Succeeded Him

Before his death Caesar had drawn up a will like all good Emperors should. This will named Octavian as his successor on the throne. As Octavian lived to take up this offer, it all worked out as planned. What would have been interesting is if that hadn’t of happened! Caesar had named Brutus, one his attackers, as next in line if Octavian couldn’t or wouldn’t become Emperor. Brutus was actually liked and trusted by Caesar, hence the line ‘Et tu Brute’ that Caesar uttered on seeing his attackers coming towards him.

02 – He Had To Put Traffic Control In Place

Many people think that it is only modern cities that have trouble with traffic. This is actually not true at all as ancient Rome can testify. The congestion in the ancient city from chariots and such like got so bad that Caesar banned them all during daylight hours. This gave the inhabitants of the city some relief from the hustle and bustle while being able to go about their daily lives too.

01 – He Wore The Laurel Wreath To Cover Up His Baldness

When you think of Julius Caesar, you automatically picture a man with a laurel wreath perched proudly atop his head. While you may think this was purely a fashion statement or held more significant purposes, it actually was used to cover his bald patch up! Caesar was apparently paranoid about losing his hair and used the wreath to keep it from the Roman public.

The lives of the ancient Roman emperors have long been a source of fascination for many. Caesar is not exempt from this, but you may not have come across the above before. As a Roman Emperor, he was certainly one of the best and will be long remembered for his period on the throne in imperial Rome.

Julius Caesar: A Timeless Influence in Modern Language and Culture

When we say Julius Caesar, it’s not just a name from history books. It’s a living legacy in our modern language and culture. Take the “Julian” calendar for instance. It’s his brainchild, a system that redefined how we track days and months. And the term “Caesarian” in medical circles? Directly linked to Caesar’s own life story.

Caesar’s narrative has been a goldmine in popular media and film. Consider the epic “Cleopatra,” where Caesar’s complex relationship with the Egyptian queen is brilliantly depicted. Or the critically acclaimed TV series “Rome,” showcasing his political acumen and the intrigue that led to his downfall.

In the realm of art and literature, Caesar’s impact is monumental. Shakespeare‘s “Julius Caesar” isn’t just a play; it’s a cultural phenomenon. It has given us iconic lines and shaped our understanding of power and betrayal. Artworks, too, have been fascinated with Caesar. The painting “Death of Caesar” by Jean-Léon Gérôme is a visual representation of the shock and turmoil of his assassination.

Each reference, every artistic depiction, keeps Caesar’s story fresh and relevant. They provoke us to question: Was he a visionary leader or a ruthless tyrant? His tale, woven intricately into our cultural tapestry, keeps this conversation alive and kicking.

Reflecting on Caesar’s Enduring Legacy

As we reach the end of our exploration of Julius Caesar’s life, it’s clear his legacy is more intricate than commonly perceived. His influence stretches far beyond military conquests and political maneuvers. Caesar’s impact on Roman architecture, language, and even the Julian Calendar shows a leader whose decisions shaped an era​​.

His leadership style, balancing autocracy with populist policies, continues to be a subject of debate and analysis​​. The broader implications of his reign, from economic reforms to foreign diplomacy, offer insights into the complexities of power and governance​​.

In closing, the story of Julius Caesar is not just about the rise and fall of a Roman leader. It’s a narrative that challenges us to consider the multifaceted nature of historical figures. His life, filled with achievements and controversies, remains a powerful reminder of how history’s giants continue to influence our world, long after they’re gone.