CAESAR, Gaius Julius (C. Iulius C. f. C. n. Caesar). - Born July 13, 102 B.C., died March 15, 44 B.C. Consul in 59, conqueror of Gaul from 58 to 51, in civil war against Pompey (49-45)
during which he won in the campaigns of Spain (49-45), the Balkans (48, battle of Pharsalus), Egypt (48-47) during which the events narrated below take place, which concern Jewish history, Asia Minor (47), Africa (46); absolute master of Rome from 45 until his death. His program was to adapt the organization of the State, too egoistically Roman and Italic, to the new frontiers that now reached all the shores of the Mediterranean. This program had as its cornerstones the improvement of the social conditions of the people, the reduction of the Senate to a simple consultative body, the equalization of the provinces with Italy, encouraging in those of the West, more barbarous, Latin culture but respecting in the East the Greek nationality and Hellenistic culture. He reformed and unified the calendar (v.) for the more harmonious conduct of religious and civil life, firmly established the army as a safeguard of the new political-social order, thus preparing the way for the definitive settlement carried out by Augustus.
Relations with the history of Israel begin when, after Pharsalus, the Idumaean Antipater, counselor of Hyrcanus II, formerly a partisan of Pompey, joined Caesar's party, and to demonstrate his friendship by deeds sent to the aid of Caesar, besieged in Alexandria, 3000 Jewish soldiers and fought personally at the forcing of Pelusium; he also procured for Caesar the friendship of Arab and Syrian tribal chiefs, as well as the assistance of the Jewish colony of Leontopolis, so that Caesar was able to defeat the king of Egypt Ptolemy Dionysus.
The victorious dictator showed himself grateful to the Jews. To Antipater he granted Roman citizenship and the office of procurator (ἐπίτρατος) of Judaea, notwithstanding the rights claimed by Antigonus, son of Aristobulus, who had been killed by the Pompeians for Caesar's cause. To Hyrcanus, who governed in name, he granted the hereditary dignity of high priest, the title of ethnarch and certain financial rights. To the Jews he permitted the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem destroyed by Pompey, enlarged the national territory, including Joppa and certain cities of Galilee that had passed to Phoenicia and Syria, forbade that Roman troops should establish winter quarters in that territory. He exempted the Israelites from the tribute of the sabbatical years and from military requisitions and also granted the Jews of the diaspora (v.) to live according to their customs, to collect contributions for the sacrifices, and other privileges. No people subject to Rome felt as much grief for the tragic death of Caesar as Israel.
Bibliography7 works
Pietro De Ambroggi