Gaius Julius Caesar was born in the year 100 BC into a patrian family who claimed to descend from the kings of Alba Langa and through them, Aeneas of Troy whose mother was the goddess Venus. Caesar's name Julius comes from Iulius, the family name. This comes from Iulius, the name of Venus" son. Although born to a noble family, Julius Caesar, who lived from 100 BC to 44 BC grew popular with the common people of Rome. To gain popularity, Caesar endeared himself to the masses by spending large sums of money in their behalf. He organized spectacular public games and gave gifts of food. Around the time of 85 BC, his father died and a few years later he was betrothed and possibly married to a wealthy young lady, Cossutia. This betrothal marriage was soon broken off, and at the age of 18 he married Cornelia. When he married Cornelia, the daughter of the popular leader Cinna, he further strengthened his popularity. Through this marriage, however, Caesar also gained the hostility of Sulla, because Cinna was one of Sulla's enemies. When the Optimate dictator, Sulla was in power, he ordered Caesar to divorce her, when Caesar refused, Sulla proscribed him and Caesar went into hiding. (3).
Caesar, on the staff of a military legate, was awarded the civic crown for saving the life of a citizen in battle, around 79 BC. His general sent him on an embassy to Nicomedes, the king of Bithynia, to obtain a fleet of shops, Caesar was successful, but subsequently he became the butt of gossip that he had persuaded the king only by agreeing to sleep with him. When Sulla died in 78 BC, Caesar returned to Rome and began a career as a lawyer and a life as an elegant man about town. (1).
In 75 BC, while sailing to Greece for further study, Caesar was kidnapped by Cilician pirates and held for ransom. When informed that they intended to ask for 20 talents, he is supposed to have insisted that he was worth at least 50.
