Gaius Julius Caesar the Elder – who was Julius Caesar’s father?
Aeneas and Dido on the mosaic. It was from the legendary Aeneas that the Julius family derived its origins
Julius Caesar’s father, Gaius Julius Caesar the Elder (Gaius Julius Caesar), was a Roman politician from the influential Julius family (gens Julia), which in turn traced its origins to the legendary Aeneas and the goddess Venus.
He held several public offices, including the function of quaestor and praetor, which proves his significant position on the political scene of Rome. He also became governor of Asia, where he obtained a large income. Although he did not reach the highest offices such as the consulship, he was well known in political spheres.
He died suddenly around 85 BCE when Julius Caesar was only about 15 years old. His death had no direct impact on his son’s career, but young Caesar inherited his family name and prestige, which became the foundation of his later achievements.
