Caesar spent so lavishly in hopes to obtain the office of pontifex maximus, or better known as “the high priest.” Though there were accusations of bribery, which could very likely be true, he “decisively defeated two very strong competitors, [regardless that] they were greatly his superiors in age and rank” (Suetonius, 39). (His victory could also be due to the fact that his candidacy split the two older men’s votes.) As the high priest, it was his job to expurgate public morals and to be concerned with the sanctifying of public acts. In 62 BCE, Caesar was elected praetor; that is, it was his duty to serve as a judge of the Republic and to be in charge of the army when the consul was absent. He later ran for consul, and won, in 59 BCE. Aligned with Bibulus on the grounds of significant financial means, his goal was to “promise largess to the electors,” but also to pay off the massive debt he accumulated overtime with all of his flashy parties (Suetonius, 39). Though he was supposed to serve alongside Bibulus, he began to handle “all the affairs of state alone and after his own pleasure” (Suetonius,
Caesar spent so lavishly in hopes to obtain the office of pontifex maximus, or better known as “the high priest.” Though there were accusations of bribery, which could very likely be true, he “decisively defeated two very strong competitors, [regardless that] they were greatly his superiors in age and rank” (Suetonius, 39). (His victory could also be due to the fact that his candidacy split the two older men’s votes.) As the high priest, it was his job to expurgate public morals and to be concerned with the sanctifying of public acts. In 62 BCE, Caesar was elected praetor; that is, it was his duty to serve as a judge of the Republic and to be in charge of the army when the consul was absent. He later ran for consul, and won, in 59 BCE. Aligned with Bibulus on the grounds of significant financial means, his goal was to “promise largess to the electors,” but also to pay off the massive debt he accumulated overtime with all of his flashy parties (Suetonius, 39). Though he was supposed to serve alongside Bibulus, he began to handle “all the affairs of state alone and after his own pleasure” (Suetonius,