Julia Caesaris (wife of Marius)

Iulia (c. 130 BC; † 68 (or 69) BC? ) Was the wife of the Roman politician and military commander Gaius Marius and paternal aunt of the dictator Gaius Julius Caesar.

Life

Julia was the daughter of Gaius Julius Caesar not known and Marcia, a daughter of the consul Quintus Marcius Rex. Between 115 and 109 BC she married Gaius Marius († 86 BC) and gave birth to 109 BC, the son of Gaius Marius the Younger. About her life little is known. She is described as virtuous and loving to her husband and her only son. They spoke out against the fact that her son took the consulate of the year 82 BC.

After her death (probably 68 BC ) held her nephew Caesar as Quaestor magnificent funeral for her and his wife Cornelia also died young. It was evident since the death of Sulla († 78 BC) enough time has passed that it could dare Caesar to publicly rehabilitate at this event Marius, Sulla and the mortal enemy to honor. For the first time since Sulla's seizure of power, he said publicly the image of Marius show the funeral procession. The funeral oration for Caesar Iulia is quite well known by larger quotes Suetonius. He emphasizes the fact that ( politically constructed ) Breeding iulias mother from early Roman king Ancus Marcius and praises the iulische gender, 'm close to the gods. Suetonius points out that Caesar even then referred to his alleged royal birth and his subsequent pursuit of the monarchy anticipated. The substantiated by Iulia relationship between Caesar and Marius is mentioned several times because of their high political symbolism in ancient authors.