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Julius Caesar
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=== Aedileship and election as ''pontifex maximus'' === For much of this period, Caesar was one of [[Pompey]]'s supporters. Caesar joined with Pompey in the late 70s to support restoration of tribunician rights; his support for the law recalling the Lepidan exiles may have been related to the same tribune's bill to grant lands to Pompey's veterans. Caesar also supported the ''[[lex Gabinia]]'' in 67 BC granting Pompey an extraordinary command against piracy in the Mediterranean and also supported the ''[[lex Manilia]]'' in 66 BC to reassign the Third Mithridatic War from its then-commander [[Lucullus]] to Pompey.{{sfn|Gruen|1995|p=79β80}} [[File:Julius Caesar & C. Cossutius Maridianus, denarius, 44 BC, RRC 480-19.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Denarius of C. Cossutius Maridianus, 44 BC, with the head of Julius Caesar as pontifex maximus on the obverse. The legend on the reverse mentions A. A. A. F. F.]] Four years after his aunt Julia's funeral, in 65 BC, Caesar served as [[curule aedile]] and staged lavish [[Ludi|games]] that won him further attention and popular support.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mouritsen |first=Henrik |title=Plebs and politics in the late Roman Republic |date=2001 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=0-511-04114-4 |oclc=56761502 |page=97}} See also {{harvnb|Broughton|1952|p=158}} and {{harvnb|Plut. ''Caes.''|loc=6.1β4}}.</ref> He also restored the trophies won by Marius, and taken down by Sulla, over [[Jugurthine War|Jugurtha]] and the [[Cimbrian War|Cimbri]].{{sfn|Broughton|1952|p=158}} According to Plutarch's narrative, the trophies were restored overnight to the applause and tears of joy of the onlookers; however, any sudden and secret restoration of this sort would not have been possible β architects, restorers, and other workmen would have to have been hired and paid for β nor would it have been likely that the work could have been done in a single night.{{sfn|Morstein-Marx|2021|pp=46β47}} It is more likely that Caesar was merely restoring his family's public monuments β consistent with standard aristocratic practice and the virtue of {{lang|la|[[pietas]]}} β and, over objections from Catulus, these actions were broadly supported by the Senate.{{sfn|Morstein-Marx|2021|pp=48β49}} In 63 BC, Caesar stood for the praetorship and also for the post of {{lang|la|[[pontifex maximus]]}},<ref>{{harvnb|Morstein-Marx|2021|pp=64, 64 n. 129|ps=, noting that it is not clear which election was first; it is more likely, however, that elections were late and therefore that the pontifical election occurred first. Dio's claim of elections in December is clearly erroneous. {{harvnb|Broughton|1952|p=172 n. 3}}.}}</ref> who was the head of the [[College of Pontiffs]] and the highest ranking state religious official. In the pontifical election before the [[Roman tribe|tribes]], Caesar faced two influential senators: [[Quintus Lutatius Catulus Capitolinus|Quintus Lutatius Catulus]] and [[Publius Servilius Isauricus]]. Caesar came out victorious. Many scholars have expressed astonishment that Caesar's candidacy was taken seriously, but this was not without historical precedent.<ref>{{harvnb|Morstein-Marx|2021|pp=64β65|ps=, noting the victory of curule aedile [[Publius Licinius Crassus Dives (consul 205 BC)|Publius Licinius Crassus]] in 212 over senior consulars and plebeian tribune [[Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus (consul 96 BC)|Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus]] over consulars.}}</ref> Ancient sources allege that Caesar paid huge bribes or was shamelessly ingratiating;<ref>{{harvnb|Morstein-Marx|2021|p=66}}, citing {{harvnb|Suet. ''Iul.''|loc=13}}; {{harvnb|Plut. ''Caes.''|loc=7.1β4}}; {{harvnb|Dio|loc=37.37.1β3}}.</ref> that no charge was ever laid alleging this implies that bribery alone is insufficient to explain his victory.{{sfn|Morstein-Marx|2021|pp=67β68}} If bribes or other monies were needed, they may have been underwritten by Pompey, whom Caesar at this time supported and who opposed Catulus' candidacy.{{sfn|Gruen|1995|pp=80β81}} Many sources also assert that Caesar supported the land reform proposals brought that year by plebeian tribune [[Publius Servilius Rullus]], however, there are no ancient sources so attesting.{{sfn|Morstein-Marx|2021|p=69 n. 148}} Caesar also engaged in a collateral manner in the trial of [[Gaius Rabirius (senator)|Gaius Rabirius]] by one of the plebeian tribunes β [[Titus Labienus]] β for the murder of Saturninus in accordance with a [[senatus consultum ultimum]] some forty years earlier.{{sfn|Morstein-Marx|2021|p=71}}<ref>{{Harvnb|Alexander|1990|p=110|ps= (Trials 220β21).}}</ref> The most famous event of the year was the [[Catilinarian conspiracy]]. While some of Caesar's enemies, including Catulus, alleged that he participated in the conspiracy,<ref>{{harvnb|Gruen|1995|p=80|ps=, citing Sall. ''Cat.'', 49.1β2.}} See also {{harvnb|Suet. ''Iul.''|loc=17}}.</ref> the chance that he was a participant is extremely small.<ref>{{harvnb|Morstein-Marx|2021|pp=72β77|ps=, placing it around 2.5 per cent.}} {{harvnb|Gruen|1995|p=429 n. 107}} calls the view that Caesar was one of the masterminds of the conspiracy "long... discredited and requires no further refutation".</ref>
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