THE RISE OF JULIUS CAESAR
EP.1: PIRATES - THE EARLY YEARS
Julius Caesar is one of the world's most famous and successful military genius' of all time. He conquered the fierce and warlike multitudes of Gaul with a few thousands men, and he beat some of the best Roman commanders in a civil war he ignited by crossing the Rubicon.
But where did Caesar come from? Where did it all start?
This episode covers the extraordinary groundwork of this extraordinary man's rise, from his childhood during the Marius-Sulla Civil War, near-death experience and his capture by pirates, to returning to Rome a military hero.
EP.2: MAXIMUS
It was Alexander the Great who spurred Julius Caesar to new heights. When Caesar saw a statue of him when he was 31, he realised that at his age Alexander had conquered half the world. Caesar was so distraught at his own relative lack of achievements, it's said he wept at Alexander's feet.
In just a few years Caesar had become the Chief Priest of Rome, Consul, and one of the members of Rome's first Triumvirate.Â
Join us on his journey to political power, and meet Pompey, Crassus, and a rebel gladiator named Spartacus who sparked the whole thing off in the first place.
EP.3: THE GALLIC WARS
This is where Caesar made himself a Roman legend. He fought hundreds of thousands of Gauls, saw off Germanic invasions, and even had a little jaunt over the sea to Britannia.Â
The Senate had been desperate to prosecute him for crimes during his Consulship, but he had taken a governorship of provinces bordering Gaul which gave him immunity for five years.
He then used those years to craft seemingly legitimate reasons to continually intervene in Gallic affairs, crushing tribes and intimidating others. In just over three years, Gaul was his. But it was far from easy, and on more than one occasion, Caesar was lucky to get out alive.
EP.4: VERCINGETORIX
Vercingetorix was a proud, young Gallic chieftain who gave Caesar his first bloody nose of the Gallic Wars and led a rebellion so serious that it nearly cost Caesar everything.
EP.5: RUBICON
Once Vercingetorix was in chains and the Gallic Wars over, you might have thought Caesar would be in for a well-earned rest.
But Pompey and the Optimates in the Roman Senate were jealous and wanted Caesar back in Rome so they could prosecute him for any number of crimes - including his conquest of Gaul, which they had never given permission for.
But Caesar wasn't about to spend the rest of his life in court, jail or exile, and sought to outmanoeuvre the Senate.
The Optimates and Pompey sought to drag Caesar back to Rome.
It ended in a tussle which led Caesar to the banks of the Rubicon, and the biggest decision of his life.