The Impact of Women in Shaping the Life of Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar is one of the most famous figures in human history, owing to his achievements on the political and military front. However, few are aware of the influence that "his" women had during decisive moments of his life. Although many of them left a profound mark on him, this article focuses on three figures in particular: his first wife, Cornelia; his mother, Aurelia; and his daughter, Julia. These women ended up shaping, for better or for worse, not only the political and military career of the great Roman dictator but also played a crucial role in events that would change the course of Roman history. However, to understand the impact of these three remarkable women, we need to know relevant facts about the story of Caesar, one of the greatest characters of classical antiquity.
Biography of Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar, born in 101 BC into one of the oldest patrician families of ancient Rome —the aristocratic ruling class of the Republic—was one of the greatest generals and politicians of his time. Among his many achievements, we must highlight his conquest of Gaul (58 BC–50 BC), his victory in the Civil War against one of the most important leading military figures of the time, Pompey (49 BC–45 BC), and his proclamation as supreme dictator from 49 BC until his assassination in 44 BC. Additionally, he implemented a series of important political and social reforms that made him popular among the people of Rome and marked the beginning of the end for the Republic (Plutarch, 1997).
Julius Caesar began at a very young age to approach the populares, a political faction that represented the common people and whose leader was his uncle, Gaius Marius, who served as consul of Rome four times. At an early age, the young patrician began gaining the support of the plebeians, gradually increasing his prestige through the various public positions he held. In 60 BC, Caesar created the First Triumvirate by convincing two powerful political figures of the time, Marcus Licinius Crassus and Gnaeus Pompey Magnus, to join his cause. Through this private agreement to divide power, the alliance opposed the Senate's dominant faction, the optimates - an aristocratic faction in the late Roman Republic that sought to limit the power of the populares. However, the future dictator's ambition knew no bounds. He laid the foundations for absolute power by securing control of the provinces of Cisalpine Gaul, Narbonese Gaul, and Illyria between 58 BC and 51 BC. He subsequently conquered the rest of Gaul and carried out two expeditions to Britain and Germania. Thanks to these conquests, he came to dominate a vast territory comparable to that of Pompey in the East (Plutarch, 1997).
Julius Caesar’s prestige and the power he amassed over the years, both on a popular and military level, ended up worrying his fellow Triumvirate partner, Pompey, who had been elected consul at the time. This tension between the two leaders culminated in a civil war due to two unfortunate events: the death of Crassus during a campaign against the Parthians in 53 BC, and the death of Caesar’s daughter, Julia, who had been Pompey’s wife, during childbirth in 54 BC. With the Triumvirate dissolved and his daughter deceased, the future dictator decided to confront Pompey, whom the Senate had entrusted with defending the Republic to protect and preserve the traditional oligarchic order. When Caesar crossed the Rubicon River with his troops—the limit of his jurisdiction—he started and ultimately won a civil war that lasted three long years, from 49 BC to 46 BC (Strauss, 2015).
Following his victory, Caesar accumulated both honors and positions that ultimately endorsed his popular absolutism: consul for ten years, supreme commander of the army, prefect of morals, pontifex maximus, perpetual dictator, and emperor with the right of hereditary succession. The suppression of the Senate’s power and the practical fall of the Republic earned the popular leader numerous enemies, culminating in a conspiracy led by Cassius and Brutus that ended his life. After his death, Octavian Augustus, Julius Caesar's heir, carried out the dictator's final reform. He ended the Republic by establishing a populist authoritarian monarchy and proclaimed himself the first Emperor of Rome.
Cornelia Cinna
Julius Caesar had three wives and countless mistresses, to the point of earning the nickname of the "bald adulterer (Strauss, 2015). Many of them influenced his life, such as Cleopatra. The romantic and political relationship between them affected the course of history in both Rome and Egypt. However, it was his first wife, Cornelia Cinna, who triggered his political success for three reasons: their marriage, their lineage and his exile.
Gaius Julius Caesar was betrothed to a young woman named Cossutia, who came from a wealthy equestrian family. Due to the political complexities of the time and the internal struggles between Rome’s political factions, Lucius Cornelius Cinna—a politician and military leader of great influence among the populares—brought about a change of plans. He forced a marriage between the Julia and Cinna families, forcing the former to break the engagement between Cossutia and Caesar. In 84 BC, he betrothed the young patrician to his daughter Cornelia, thus securing a lasting pact with Gaius Marius. At the time the marriage proposal was made, it was very advantageous for the Julia family, especially for Julius Caesar, as the populares controlled the Senate, and this union of convenience offered the young man great prospects for a potential political career. However, the instability of the Republic eventually led to a civil war between the optimates, led by the dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix, and the populares, led by Lucius Cornelius Cinna, following the death of consul Gaius Marius (Suetonius, 1931).
After the war, which was won by the optimates and in which Cornelius Cinna, father-in-law of Julius Caesar, was killed, the massacres carried out by Sulla began. Thousands of citizens who opposed his policies were executed. As a member of the defeated faction, Caesar was stripped of his family inheritance and forced by the dictator to repudiate Cornelia, the daughter of the leader of the losing side. In an act of love for his wife and rebellion against the optimate regime, Caesar refused and went into exile to escape the death sentence imposed on him. However, thanks to the pressure of his mother Aurelia and the Vestal Virgins, Sulla eventually withdrew the death sentence against the young patrician. This act turned Caesar into a survivor, as well as a spokesman for the people and their misery, as his exile was perceived as a sacrifice against the imposed oligarchy. Sulla, who had grown suspicious, warned his supporters that this young man would be the ruin of the optimate faction. He stated that there are many Mariuses in him (Tollinchi, 1998, p. 205). This referred to the great consul and his achievements, both military and in favor of the popular cause.
On a personal level, Julius Caesar had a happy marriage for fifteen years with Cornelia. Their union resulted in the birth of their first daughter, Julia, in 76 BC. She became a key figure in his life. Thanks to her, he would become one of the most powerful men in Rome. Unfortunately, in 69 BC, his wife died during the birth of their second child. The young patrician presided over her funeral, devastated, and delivered a great eulogy for his wife. His making all those present share in his grief and that there were no precedents for such eulogies for such a young woman, caused a furor among the people, further increasing Caesar's popularity among the Roman people (Dando-Collins, 2025).
Thus, Cornelia played a key role in her husband's political life. Although the marriage did not seem advantageous due to the defeat of the populares and the order of repudiation as part of the humiliation of the Cinna family, their union, eventually solidified the future dictator's reputation among the people of Rome. Moreover, by showing his vulnerability during his wife's funeral, Caesar stirred the hearts of the people and reignited the populares cause. Therefore, although Cornelia may not have had relevance as a woman at the time, her marriage, her popularity, and the birth of their daughter were crucial in positioning her husband as a popular leader.
Aurelia Cotta and Pompeia
Behind every man, there is an extraordinary figure. In this case, it is a mother. If Julius Caesar is known as one of the great conquerors, it is most surely due to the role his mother played in his upbringing, teaching him Roman values from a very early age.
Aurelia Cotta (120 BC – 54 BC) was a Roman matron from one of the most illustrious families of the time, the Aurelii. Several of her family members, such as her father and grandfather, both named Lucius Aurelius Cotta, became consuls. Documents describe her as a highly respected woman, deeply proud of her family, and a great model of virtue. She played a key role in the education of her children, especially Julius Caesar. It is said that thanks to her upbringing, she helped her son contribute to the Roman state by raising him with a pure and virtuous nature that no vice could destroy. Furthermore, belonging to a family of great importance in Rome, Aurelia had important connections and considerable influence, which would prove crucial at two moments in Julius Caesar's life: his exile and his second marriage (Chrystal, 2015).
As mentioned before, after the defeat of the populares faction by the optimates, Julius Caesar and his wife Cornelia were forced into exile. It was Aurelia working in the shadows, who interceded on behalf of her son, seeking help to revoke his execution and facilitating his return to Rome. To do this, she sought the favor of the Vestal Virgins and her influential close relatives. Thanks to their pressure, she finally obtained Sulla’s pardon and her son Julius Caesar was able to return to Rome (Valverde, 2022, p. 235).
On the other hand, in 62 BC, during the celebrations of Bona Dea, a divinity whose cult was exclusively for women (Brouwer, 1989, p. 356), Aurelia was involved in a highly publicized incident. That year, the feast was held in her son’s house, as he was then the Pontifex Maximus -chief priest of ancient Rome-. Pompeia Sulla, his second wife, had to host the event in the presence of the Vestal Virgins, with the help of her mother-in-law Aurelia, who did not trust her daughter-in-law. During the festival, Publius Clodius, a man of questionable reputation, infiltrated the house disguised as a woman with the intention of seeing Pompeia. When he was discovered by a slave, Aurelia immediately ordered the images of the goddess to be covered so the intruder could not see them, as it would be sacrilege. When the ignominious act became public, Aurelia even testified against him (Plutarch, 1967, p. 463). It is said that Aurelia was the one who initiated the possible conspiracy, in order to force her son’s divorce from Pompeia, an unhappy political union with the sole purpose of ensuring that the young patrician would obtain the favor of the optimates, as Pompeia was the granddaughter of Sulla. Caesar repudiated his second wife, stating that a prudent woman must not only be free of guilt but also safe from any suspicion (Casio, 2004).
Thus, Aurelia Cotta was a descendant of one of the oldest and most important patrician families in the history of Rome. Above all, she was a model of a Roman matron and an example of inspiration and prudence. She was also known for her modesty and loyalty to Roman customs. She was a great wife, mother, and grandmother, and thanks to her remarkable heritage, she was able to promote her son's career with an excellent education, as well as influence his name by saving both his life in exile and his reputation by ending his unfortunate marriage. She was so highly respected that her opinion was taken into account even among men.
Julia Caesaris and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus
Julia, Julius Caesar's daughter, was one of the most significant figures in the dictator's life. Besides the deep love her father had for her, the young woman played a key role in his life. She managed to reinforce her father's position as well as consolidate his influence and power in the Roman Republic through the political and matrimonial dynamics she was involved in as the daughter of one of the most important figures of Ancient Rome.
Born to Caesar and his first wife, Cornelia, Julia was also the granddaughter of Aurelia Cotta and Lucius Cornelius Cinna. Although the exact date of her birth is unknown, it is usually dated around 76 BC (Rawlinson, 1877, p. 630). During her short life, like many other young women of the Roman elite at the time, Julia was used as a tool in her father's political maneuvers. The young woman was initially engaged to Servilius Caepio, a Roman politician, but her father decided to cancel the engagement due to the political changes taking place at the end of the Republic, choosing instead to betroth her to Pompey. Through this alliance, the First Triumvirate was formalized, establishing an unbreakable pact between Pompey, Caesar, and Crassus.
The marriage took place in 59 BC and was highly criticized by the opponents of the future dictator, including the well-known politicians Marcus Tullius Cicero and Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis. Despite the age difference between the spouses, contemporary sources claim that it was a successful and happy marriage, and it is even said that Pompey set aside his duties to be with his wife. This union and its stability helped ensure the functioning of the First Triumvirate among the affected political parties. While it is true that Pompey and Caesar were not on the best of terms, the marriage between the two ensured that neither would take revenge on the other out of love and respect for Julia. Unfortunately, the daughter of the future dictator died during the birth of her first child with Pompey in 54 BC, along with her baby. Julia's death deeply affected both Caesar and Pompey, accelerating the final rupture between them, which later led to a bloody Civil War (Posadas, 2024).
Thus, Julia was a key figure in the life of Julius Caesar. In emotional terms, historical records suggest that the father was very attached to his daughter and that her death was devastating to him. At the same time, Julia was crucial in ensuring a peaceful triumvirate, as Pompey and Caesar maintained a deep mutual animosity. The young patrician's love for his daughter and Pompey's affection for Julia made this alliance a success, with the young woman mediating between the two men and allowing the specter of the Civil War to fade. Furthermore, her marriage boosted her father's political career, contributing to his success during the triumvirate and later as dictator after defeating Pompey. One could say that Julia is a symbol of Rome's political ambition.
Conclusion
We can conclude that, throughout the history of Rome, women, often ignored and relegated to the background, played a key role in changing the course of history. Thanks to them, Julius Caesar is one of the most well-known and studied figures in the world. Everyone knows about his legal, political, and military successes, but few recognize that it was all thanks to the women who supported and influenced him in the shadows. Silently, and always sacrificing their own interests for the family honor, these women managed to save the life, reputation, and career, of the most important man in the Roman Republic. It was through their cunning and loyalty that Caesar was able to consolidate his power and become one of the most studied and admired figures in history. Despite their little historical recognition, the legacy of Cornelia, Aurelia, and Julia was vital to the key moments that defined the Roman Republic.
Biographical References
Brouwer, H.H.J. (1989). Bona Dea. The Sources and a Description of the Cult. E.J.Brill
Casio, D. (2004). Historia Romana. Libros XXXVI-XLV [Roman History. Books XXXVI-XLV]. (ed.). (Candau Morón, J.M. Trans). Editorial Gredos
Chrystal, P. (2015). Roman Women. The Women who Influenced the History of Rome. Fonthill Media
Dando-Collins, S. (2025). César contra Pompeyo. El Mejor Genral, Estadista y Constructor Nacional de Roma [Caesar versus Pompey. The Greatest General, Statesman, and Nation-Builder of Rome]. Erasmus Ediciones
Plutarch. (1967). Plutarch’s Lives. (ed.). (Perrin, B. Trans). Harvard University Press
Plutarch. (1997). Vida de César [Life of Caesar]. (ed.). (Crespo. E. Trans). Fondo de Cultura Económica
Posadas, Juan Luis. (2024, January 10). Las Mujeres de Julio César, el Conquistador Polígamo. Historia National Geographic. Site name: De Cornelia a Cleopatra, todas las mujeres de Julio César
Rawlinson, G. (1877). A manual of Ancient History. From the Earliest Times to the Fall of the Western Empire, Comprising the History of Chaldæa, Assyria, Media, Babylonia, Lydia, Phœnicia, Syria, Judea, Egypt, Carthage, Persia, Greece, Macedonia, Rome, and Parthia. New York: Harper & Brother, Publishers
Strauss, B. (2015). The Death of Caesar. The Story of History’s Most Famous Assassination. Simon & Schuster
Suetonius., & Gavorse, J. (Ed.) (1931). The Lives of the Twelve Caesars. Modern Library
Tollinchi, E. (1998). Las Metamorfosis de Roma. Espacios, Figuras y Símbolos [The Metamorphoses of Rome. Spaces, Figures and Symbols]. Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico
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Visual Sources
Figure 1: Coustou, N. (1658-1733). [Jules César]. Département des Sculptures du Moyen Age, de la Renaissance et des temps modernes - Louvre. https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010091988
Figure 2: Gérome, J.L. (1859-1867). [The Death of Caesar]. The Waters Art Museum. https://art.thewalters.org/detail/37.884/
Figure 3: Thévet, A. (1584). Les Vrais Pourtraits et Vies des Hommes Illustres [Image: Cornelia Cinna]. París: Imprimerie de Christophe Plantin
Figure 4: Trajan’s Column (113 CE). Forum of Trajan, Rome, Italy
Figure 5: Bona Dea Sculpture. (17th Century). Museo Nazionale Romano, Rome, Italy
Figure 6: Netchev, S. (2024). [The First Triumvirate of the Roman Republic, c.60-53 BCE]. World History Encyclopedia. The First Triumvirate of the Roman Republic, c. 60-53 BCE (Illustration) - World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/19419/the-first-triumvirate-of-the-roman-republic-c-60-5/
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