Before discussing where or not Julius Caesar was a good benevolent ruler it is important to first look at his mindset. He was a patrician ("member of the privileged class of ancient Rome" (http://www.encyclopedia.com)) who looked for personal glory. Although Caesar wasn't the only Roman ruler that acted like this, in fact most of them did.

While growing up Caesar embraced what was happening around him. When Sulla was in power he learned that a dictator can cause a great deal of horror while at the same time he can override squabbling politicians to cause real changes. During the "Social War" Caesar recognized the resentmen

In 70 B.C.E. Caesar helped Pompey win his election for joint consulship with Crassus. With these two powerful allies Caesar quickly moved up the political latter. He held such offices as quaestor, aedile, and then finally in 63 B.C.E. praetor ("Ancient Rome"). His duties of praetor took him to Spain, where he found himself a talented military commander, and where he was able to amass enough money through tribute and booty to pay off all of his debts (Kamm 45).

In January 49 B.C.E. and plunged the Roman world into a civil war between Caesar's legions and those of Pompey. The empire was split in half, based largely on the right and wrongs and advantage and disadvantages of both sides (Shotter 78-79). Caesar's first battle would be for Italy and Spain; rather quickly Caesar was able to push Pompey out of both lands securing the resources of Spain and a tactical advantage in the lands of Italy. Upon his defeat in Italy and Spain, Pompey started amassing troops in Greece. Soon he was able to gather some 30,000 legionnaires, 300 ships and 200 senators, all of which he planned to use to outnumber Caesar's armies. Caesar was able to anticipate his moves and have a large counter force available. Caesar's men had the advantage, and seeing the inevitable defeat Pompey left the field of battle and fled to Egypt with a few friends and family. He had hopes of finding asylum there. However, that was not the case; Pompey was brutally assassinated instead. Caesar who followed Pompey to Egypt, arrived to hear the news of the murder.

"Caesar returned to Rome in 60 B.C.E. ..., joined forces with Crassus and Pompey in a three-way alliance known as the First Triumvirate" ("Caesar, Gaius Julius"). Now it seemed apparent that Caesar could meet higher goals, and an invasion of Gaul was now in order for Caesar. He was appointed governor of Roman Gaul in 58 B.C.E..

Caesar ordered an exact census of Rome's population and, with this information, the free distribution of grain was re-regulated, reducing the total number eating at state expense from 320,000 to 150,000. Fathers of large families were granted special privileges (Shotter 95).

An accomplishment of Caesar's that can be seen today is his work with reforming the calendar system. When Caesar took rule, the calendar system was in a state of disarray. Politicians and priests had manipulated it for political and personal purposes. In 46 B.C.E. it had even been allowed to become wrong by two months, to suit a political purpose. Caesar then introduced a model of the Egyptian calendar, which eventually became known as the Julian calendar. This calendar was more accurate then previous calendars, and stood all the way unchanged until 1582 AD, when Pope Gregory made some minor changes to it (Haywood 320-321).

Roman politicians traditionally used their wealth to build. Caesar, himself, planned to build many roads. Caesar knew that in order to successfully manage and defend his empire he must have the ability to quickly deploy his troops. He built thousands of miles of road throughout the empire and of coarse "All roads led to Rome." Caesar also ordered that aqueducts be built. "When the city's population was well over a million, the distribution system was able to provide over one cubic meter of water per day for each inhabitant: more than we use nowadays." (http://www.inforoma.it/aqueduct.htm) Many of these aqueducts are still in use today. In dozens of new cities that Caesar established he build of "Roman straight-streeted towns, with forums, basilicas, courts, schools, and theaters, as a physical manifestation of Rome's successful sway" (Cross).

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Approximate Word count = 2638
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)