Julius Caesar - Ambition

 The Roman Empire was forged in blood and brutality. The great Roman historian Tacitus put it best…

‘they make a desert, and call it peace'

After 400 years of ruthless military conquest, the roman republic had expanded from 3 square miles of land to 720,000 by 100BC - becoming the most powerful state in the Mediterranean

We can find the essence of Roman ambition and drive in its mythological origin. The twin brothers: Romulus and Remus, both nurtured by a She-Wolf. Their disagreement over where to establish their society led to fratricide, Romulus killed Remus and went on to establish Rome.

By looking at our etymology, the origin of words, we can best understand Roman culture. Our concept of virtue is derived from the Latin ‘Virtus’, which is itself derived from ‘Vir’, the Latin for man. The Romans worshipped the God ‘Virtus’ as the archetypal representation of all the qualities that a Roman man should possess, the qualities of; Virility, Valour, courage, honour, and ambition; and there has never been a more ambitious man in history, than Gaius Julius Caesar.

Little is known about Caesar’s upbringing; but perhaps the best opening story, which helps us understand the man we are dealing with, is the story of his kidnapping in 75BC. While on the pirate’s ship, Caesar remained calm and calculative. When told of the price of his ransom, Caesar laughed and told them to increase their price. He would often remind the Pirates, with an air of cutthroat Roman honesty - that when he is free, he will hunt them down and crucify them… you see! just your average joe.

Once Caesar was freed, he hunted down the pirates, but being a man of clemency, he chose to slit their throats… and then had them crucified.

Caesar followed the Roman way of attaining military glory, as a route to power. His brothers-in-arms would often comment on his astonishing displays of bravery – he would consistently throw himself into battle.

Caesar propelled himself forward, through seduction and a glorified reputation. He successfully established the first triumvirate, with himself and two other Roman titans; Pompey and Crassus, which allowed Caesar to secure himself as Consul - the most powerful position in Rome.

A true man of action, Caesar’s accomplishments resonate throughout history; his conquering of Gaul, his relationship with Cleopatra and his revitalising of Roman society, all provoke feelings of admiration. However, it is in 49BC, on the brink of civil war, that we see Caesar’s most valuable quality - his indomitable ambition.

In true, Thucydides fashion, Caesar, and Pompey, both at the highest echelon of Roman power, found themselves on the brink of civil war. With Caesar returning from Gaul, his loyal army at his back, he found himself on the border between Gaul and Italy proper. Crossing this border, a tiny river named the Rubicon, would mean civil war. Staring across the river, upon his homeland, Caesar followed what he had always followed, his uncompromising, unbounded, and indestructible - Ambition.

If born today, Julius Caesar would be many things – a narcissist, a psychopath, and a man with anger management issues. Putting our contemporary resentment aside and attempting to look at the man through the lens of the warring culture of Rome, one will see a man worthy of adoration. How many could dare with the fearlessness he could? His ambition knew no bounds. All too often it is the fear of failure and judgement that hold us back. In this respect, perhaps narcissism deserves a comeback.

Your ‘Rubicon’ might be starting a business, going to the gym or talking to that girl; regardless of what it is, it should terrify you, and for that very reason, you should act upon it.

Why restrain yourself? What Caesar represents is unbounded ambition. For better or for worse, beyond good and evil, Caesar is a figure of fearless ambition and daring… and you should be too. 

By Christian Hotten