Notes

1-His father, who bore the same name, governed the Roman province of Asia, while his mother, Aurelia Cotta, came from a wealthy family. Despite this, the Caesars were never particularly influential. Besides the above, little is known about Caesar's childhood. At the age of sixteen, his father died, leaving him head of the family. Around this time, he was nominated to be the high priest of Jupiter, the Roman god of the sky. Since holding this position meant he had to be married to another Patrician, Caesar broke off his engagement to a plebeian girl, and instead married Cornelia, the daughter of Lucius Cinna. Shortly afterward, Caesar was targeted by Sulla, the Roman dictator who killed his father. Sulla commanded him to divorce Cornelia, who was also targeted, and when he refused, Caesar was forced to go into hiding. He fled Rome and joined the army. After winning the Civic Crown for excellent service, and hearing of Sulla's death, Caesar returned to Rome. He found that his house had been confiscated, so he purchased a new one in a middle-class neighborhood, and became involved in legal advocacy. Caesar became known for his exceptional oratory, and his and expressing his vehement displeasure with corrupt government officials.
2-While I was hailed from the Roman aristocrats, my family was far from rich. When I was 16, my father, an important regional governor in Asia also named Gaius Julius Caesar, died. I remained close to my mother, Aurelia.
Little is known of my early years, but during my youth, an element of instability dominated the Roman Republic, which had discredited its nobility and seemed unable to handle its considerable size and influence.
Around the time of my father's death, I made a concerted effort to establish key alliances with the country's nobility, with whom I was well-connected.
In 84 B.C., I married Cornelia, the daughter of a nobleman. In 69 B.C., Cornelia passed away. my marriage to Cornelia drew the ire of the Roman dictator Sulla, as Cornelia’s father was Sulla’s political rival. Sulla ordered me to divorce his wife or risk losing his property. I refused and escaped by serving in the military, in the province of Asia.