Julius Caesar has been one of Shakespeare's most well-known and loved tragedies. Its historical appeal is in a sense stronger than plays such as Hamlet, Macbeth and King Lear, which were all based around minor historical figures. This is not the case with Julius Caesar. The story of Caesar and his dramatic rise through Roman history is well known, which has further endeared both Elizabethan and modern audiences to this play. As his chief source in writing Julius Caesar, Shakespeare probably used Thomas North's translation of Plutarch's Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans; written in the first century A.D. Plutarch, who was a bibliographer and a historian. .
Rome was established in 753 BC. For two hundred years previous to this date it was ruled by a series of tyrant kings. They were overthrown in 510BC by Lucius Brutus, an ancestor of Marcus Brutus, who appears as a significant character in the play. A democratic republic was soon formed which lasted for five hundred years. It should be noted that the Romans were fiercely proud of their democratic traditions.
Around 60BC three of the most successful leaders of their time formed an allegiance to rule Rome. These men were Pompey, Crassus and Caesar, and they were known as the great Triumvirate. .
Julius Caesar was born in 100 BC. His various successful military campaigns ensured him power and wealth. He was responsible for the capture of Britain, Gaul (France), much of Europe and parts of North Africa. His famous words "veni, vidi, veci" (I came, I saw, I conquered) sum up both his attitude and his military career. .
Pompey was born in 106 BC. He was a military general of Caesars stature, and similarly to Caesar, his success was met with mixed emotions from the Roman public. Some hated him, some supported him. It is generally noted in history that the Roman people's good-will and devotion was concentrated upon Pompey more so than many leaders of his time.
