Julius Caesar (Spartacus)

“	"I am Julius FUCKING CAESAR!"	„
	― Caesar to Tiberius

Gaius Julius Caesar is a young and ambitious soldier from a prestigious lineage. Serving as a skilled lieutenant under Marcus Licinius Crassus, he brings a lethal combination of intelligence, charisma, and battlefield prowess to the fight against the rebellion. As he rises through the ranks, his cunning and ambition foreshadow the powerful ruler he is destined to become.

Names	Gaius Julius Caesar, Caesar, Wolf
Gender	Male ♂
Race	Human
Occupation	Roman Noble, Soldier, Tribune
Origin	Spartacus: War of the Dammed Episode 2: (S3E2) "Wolves at the Gate" (February 1, 2013)
Alignment	Mixed
Age	29
Created By	Steven S, DeKnight, Aaron Helbing & Todd Helbing
Height	183 cm (6ft 0in)
Weight	75kg (165.3 lbs)
Personality Type	ESTP, 8w7 (Enneagram)
Portrayed By	Todd Lasance

Appearance

Caesar is a striking figure with blond hair and a muscular build. Unlike most Romans, who maintain short hair and a clean-shaven face, he retains his long hair and beard as remnants of his last campaign—at Crassus’ request. This unkempt appearance is later revealed to be a strategic choice, allowing him to infiltrate the rebels’ camp as a spy and help orchestrate Spartacus’ downfall. Initially seen in a simple robe, he later dons the armor of a Roman officer. Following the recapture of Sinuessa en Valle, he shaves his beard and trims his hair to present himself as a disciplined Roman soldier once more.

Personality

Caesar is a complex blend of brilliance, savagery, and ambition. A natural warrior with a volatile temperament, he does not hesitate to assert dominance—whether by brutalizing slaves or swiftly executing cowards. His sharp mind and charismatic charm make him a formidable manipulator, earning him the nickname Silver Tongue for his ability to deceive, negotiate, and provoke his enemies with ease. His hunger for power is matched only by his appetite for wine, women, and glory.

Beneath his arrogance and violent nature, Caesar harbors a deep loyalty to Rome and its people. He shares Crassus' respect for skilled warriors, even among his enemies, and never underestimates formidable opponents like Spartacus, whose tactical brilliance he admires, or Gannicus and Donar, whose combat prowess he acknowledges. Despite his ruthless demeanor, he displays moments of empathy, particularly towards suffering Roman women, revealing a more complex sense of honor.

However, his bold and swaggering nature often provokes animosity, particularly from Tiberius, with whom he shares a bitter rivalry. Caesar dismisses Crassus’ son as unworthy of his attention, taunting him at every opportunity and fueling their ongoing feud. His unwavering confidence and fearlessness make him a dangerous opponent both on and off the battlefield, setting him apart as a force to be reckoned with.

Biography

Background

Caesar is renowned for his victories against Mithridates and the Pontic Greeks, potentially completing the campaign that Glaber had been tasked with at the beginning of Blood and Sand. He has a reputation for insubordination when tactical necessity demands it, having once defied the Senate by attacking Mithridates' allies without official approval. His justification was simple: had he waited, the province would have been lost. This defiance, while controversial, highlights his keen strategic mind and willingness to act decisively in the face of bureaucracy.

War of the Damned

Caesar first appears growing impatient while waiting for Crassus, resorting to assaulting slaves in front of Crassus’ wife when they try to stop him from leaving. Crassus intervenes, and the two discuss the significance of uniting Caesar’s noble lineage with Crassus’ vast wealth. Later, while enjoying the baths, Caesar orders a slave to shave his beard. When she hesitates, he questions her reluctance, only for Kore to inform him that Crassus has commanded him to remain unshorn. Trading a few sharp words, he then attempts to seduce Kore as she attends to him, but Crassus interrupts—revealing his own affair with the slave.

Crassus briefs Caesar on Spartacus, emphasizing that the rebel leader was a champion gladiator who rivaled any in the arena and had served in the Roman auxiliary under Glaber. Knowing Spartacus is familiar with Roman tactics, Caesar immediately sees a way to turn this knowledge against him. Impressed by his quick thinking, Crassus remarks that he wishes his son possessed such sharpness of mind. Caesar later takes pleasure in taunting Tiberius about serving under him.

However, he is visibly frustrated when Crassus names Tiberius as his second-in-command despite the young man's lack of experience. Crassus, sensing his displeasure, informs Caesar that he has invested heavily in his election as military tribune, easing the tension between them. Caesar then travels with Tiberius and Sabinus to Mummius' camp, where he reunites with the Roman commander. Mummius takes Caesar aside for a private conversation about their past experiences, leaving Tiberius and Sabinus to strategize their next move against Spartacus.

When a survivor from Sinuessa arrives at the camp, he describes how Spartacus and his rebels have seized the city, referring to the rebel leader as The Bringer of Death. Overhearing this, Caesar remarks that the man must be equal in skill to Spartacus to have survived the battle—only to realize that the soldier had actually fled in cowardice. Without hesitation, Caesar draws his sword and slashes the man’s head open, killing him instantly. As he walks away, Tiberius reminds him that he is still under his command, but Caesar merely grins, unfazed by the younger man's authority.

Caesar is later sent undercover into the rebels' ranks, the very reason Crassus had ordered him to keep his hair and beard. Assuming the identity of Lysiscus, a former Pastore, he earns the rebels’ trust by killing a Roman in front of them, proving his supposed loyalty to Spartacus’ cause. When tested by Gannicus in combat, he demonstrates remarkable skill with the sword, though he is still outmatched by the former gladiator. Undeterred, he promises a different outcome in a future fight, a boast that draws laughter from Gannicus and the other rebels.

Sensing Nemetes’ growing dissatisfaction with Spartacus’ leadership—particularly his mercy towards Roman captives—Caesar befriends him. As a test of his true allegiance, Nemetes forces Caesar to violate Fabia, a Roman woman who had already suffered brutal torture and rape at the hands of the rebels. Instead, Caesar shows genuine compassion, revealing his true identity and his mission to infiltrate the rebels. He urges her to hold on a little longer, but she pleads for him to end her suffering. In an act both merciful and strategic, he grants her request and uses her death to incite Crixus and the others, manipulating them into massacring the remaining Roman prisoners—an act that causes a deep rift between Spartacus and Crixus.

Later, Caesar spies on Spartacus as he departs with Gannicus and a small group on Heracleo’s ship. He reports this to Nemetes and Crixus, further stoking Crixus’ anger. However, when Spartacus returns and releases the Romans, Caesar watches in silence. As Spartacus orders the division of their forces, Caesar encounters Nemetes, who is following a newly reconciled Crixus. After a brief conversation, Caesar swiftly kills Nemetes’ allies and disarms him, knocking him to the ground. Revealing his true identity, Caesar prepares to kill him, but Nemetes begs for his life, offering to help Caesar kill Spartacus, claiming the rebel leader is unworthy of his devotion. Caesar acknowledges the offer but coldly states he has made other arrangements before slashing Nemetes’ throat, sending him plummeting from the plaza. Watching the German die, Caesar spits on his corpse and departs.

When Heracleo lures Spartacus into a trap aboard a ship filled with Romans, Caesar seizes the moment, sneaking up and stabbing Spartacus in the back. He briefly duels Gannicus but is knocked down. As Spartacus is distracted, Caesar rallies a group of soldiers and leads them to the gates, intent on reclaiming the city. There, he faces Donar, Saxa, and Agron, finally revealing his true allegiance. He holds his own against Agron while the rebels attempt to block the gates by severing the ropes. In response, Caesar douses the gate in pitch and sets it ablaze, but soon finds himself outnumbered by the three warriors. Overwhelmed and knocked to the ground, he is taunted by Agron—until Crassus’ battering ram smashes through the burning gate. With a triumphant smirk, Caesar mocks the stunned rebels, advising them to run.

As the Roman forces pour in, Caesar continues fighting alongside Crassus, cutting down many rebels as they retake the city. When they reach the gates leading to the Alps, Caesar spots Spartacus and points him out to Crassus, declaring, "The man you seek." He is the first to give chase when Spartacus flees.

Following the battle, Caesar finally shaves his beard and cuts his hair, resuming the appearance of a proper Roman soldier. He earns the praise of Senator Metellus and, in turn, commends Crassus, though when the senator leaves, both men share their mutual disdain for him. As the campaign progresses, Caesar repeatedly urges Crassus to pursue Spartacus, yet ultimately admits his trust in Crassus’ judgment.

A celebration of victory is held in Caesar’s honor, during which he attempts to reconcile with Tiberius, only to be coldly rejected. Later, Tiberius is forced to publicly praise him but secretly unchains Donar, a captured rebel, hoping the former gladiator will kill Caesar. As Donar attacks, Caesar quickly realizes Tiberius' plan and halts the surrounding soldiers, choosing instead to give Donar a sword and face him in single combat. This time, Caesar struggles more than he did when fighting Agron and Donar the previous night, but he eventually exploits Donar’s wound and gains the upper hand. He boasts about his victory before commending Donar’s skill, but the rebel insults him and, in an act of defiance, takes his own life, robbing Caesar of the honor of his execution. While this could have been seen as a humiliation, Crassus reframes it, declaring that even the strongest rebels take their own lives rather than face the power of Caesar.

After the celebration, Caesar wanders the streets and notices a Cilician pirate with a slave, realizing something is amiss since Heracleo was only supposed to receive Laeta. Upon closer inspection, he recognizes Gannicus in disguise. Caesar and his soldiers attempt to capture him, but Gannicus proves too skilled, defeating them all and wounding Caesar before escaping with Laeta and Sibyl. Caesar later recovers from his injuries and learns from Crassus about their next move against Spartacus.

As the rebels become trapped in the snowy mountains, Caesar recuperates in his chambers, indulging in the company of prostitutes. Unbeknownst to him, Crassus reinstates Tiberius to his former rank and places Caesar under his command. When Caesar learns of this, he is outraged and argues for a better position, but Crassus remains firm in his decision. As Crassus and Tiberius walk away, Caesar, seething with anger, knocks over a torch in frustration.

Shortly after, he encounters Kore, who has overheard his argument with Crassus. Frustrated, he begins berating her, but she offers him a deal, suggesting they work together against Tiberius, whom she believes has harmed them both. Though she does not openly state her objective, Caesar bluntly demands she be direct. Kore then reveals her plan—to have Caesar escort her from Sinuessa into the mountains alongside Crassus. Though initially reluctant, Caesar ultimately agrees to the mission.

In the mountains, Caesar and Kore rendezvous with Crassus, who is visibly displeased by Kore’s unexpected presence. Soon after, Caesar is confronted by an irate Tiberius, who demands to know why he is not following his orders. Amused, Caesar smirks and gestures toward Kore, implying that her arrival is the reason for his disobedience. However, later that night, Kore vanishes into the darkness. A frustrated Crassus questions Caesar’s involvement, but Caesar insists he had no knowledge of her plans.

As Caesar, Tiberius, and Crassus lead a squadron to investigate the rebels' hideout, they discover a ditch filled with the frozen corpses of rebels. However, the scene is a trap set by Spartacus, who launches a surprise attack with his forces, raining arrows on the Romans. Though Caesar and the other commanders escape unharmed, they suffer the humiliation of another defeat and are forced to retreat back to camp.

After a Roman legion is wiped out by the rebels, Caesar witnesses Crassus's growing fury. The Imperator, in a fit of rage, savagely beats Senator Metellus. Caesar attempts to intervene, but Tiberius warns him to stay back. The two watch in shock as Crassus pummels Metellus. Eventually, Caesar steps in to calm Crassus, who then threatens the senator into silence about the assault.

When Crixus splits from Spartacus’s forces and marches toward Rome, Caesar urgently insists that Crassus’s army move to intercept him instead of continuing the pursuit of Spartacus. His frustration grows as Crassus and Tiberius ignore his concerns, prioritizing their original strategy. Noticing Crassus’s increasing stress over Kore’s betrayal and his declining self-control, Caesar attempts to convince Tiberius to reason with his father and bring him back to focus. Tiberius arrogantly refuses, prompting Caesar to blackmail him, strongly implying he knows about the boy’s suspected rape of Kore.

Later, Caesar learns the truth of the assault from one of his whores and openly confronts Tiberius. At first, the young commander tolerates the accusation but quickly loses his temper, smashing a flagon into Caesar’s face. The two engage in a violent brawl, with Caesar easily overpowering Tiberius. Before he can act further, however, he is restrained by Tiberius's guards. Held against a table, Caesar coldly reminds Tiberius that he cannot kill him, as Crassus still needs him. In response, Tiberius commits a brutal act of revenge by raping Caesar and threatening to spread word of the assault if he ever speaks about Kore’s violation or any other secrets.

At the battle against Crixus and his forces, Caesar is still sore from his previous ordeal, leaving him unable to ride a horse. Frustrated and angry, he fights fiercely, killing many rebels, including Brictius. As he prepares to engage Agron in battle, Tiberius unexpectedly rides by and slashes Agron, severely wounding him. Caesar is visibly angered by Tiberius's interference.

Later, as Crixus attempts to spear Crassus, Caesar intercepts him, wounding him before engaging in a fierce but brief struggle. However, he is ultimately bested by the former champion, his focus briefly broken by Naevia's presence. Just as Crixus is about to deliver the killing blow, Tiberius once again intervenes, spearing the Gaul in the back and claiming victory for himself. Caesar, clearly displeased by Tiberius's interference, remarks that Crixus should not have died so soon. After identifying Crixus to Crassus, he restrains Naevia, forcing her to watch as Tiberius decapitates her lover.

When Spartacus’s men infiltrate the Roman camp disguised as Pompey’s forces, Caesar appears to recognize or at least suspect the deception. He manipulates Tiberius into meeting with the supposed Pompeian forces, knowing he is walking into a trap. His knowledge of their true identities is confirmed when he later comforts a grieving prostitute over the death of her friend Canthara at Tiberius’s hands. With a dark satisfaction, he reveals that he "manipulated him towards slaughter." He also appears to be in better spirits, smiling as he personally nails Agron to a cross after first identifying him as Spartacus’s right-hand man.

When Spartacus captures Tiberius, Crassus sends Caesar to negotiate his release in exchange for five hundred Roman prisoners. The rebel leaders, harboring resentment toward Caesar for his undercover betrayal, are reluctant but ultimately agree to the exchange. When Caesar meets a wounded Tiberius, he takes pleasure in seeing him in such a state. As Tiberius declares his intent to report to Crassus about the rebel impostors, Caesar taunts him, promising revenge for his own violation on the journey back.

However, before they can leave, Tiberius is unexpectedly killed by Kore, who then offers herself in his place for the prisoner exchange. Caesar agrees to the deal, and upon returning to the Roman encampment, he lies about Tiberius's death to spare Crassus further grief. In the aftermath, Crassus makes Caesar his closest confidant, entrusting him with his word and will.

When Crassus finally faces Spartacus's army, Caesar accompanies him to a meeting with the rebel leaders. He is initially unwilling to leave Crassus alone with Spartacus but ultimately obeys his command. Upon returning to the Roman encampment, Caesar is confronted by Crassus, who has learned that Tiberius was actually killed by a woman seeking vengeance, rather than an old man as previously believed. Kore admits to her crime and is nearly executed by Crassus in his rage. However, Caesar intervenes, revealing the truth of Tiberius’s actions. This revelation causes Crassus to relent, and he later thanks Caesar for his loyalty.

During the final battle, Caesar fights alongside Crassus and is somewhat unsettled by his ruthless tactics, including launching catapult fire into the melee, killing both Romans and rebels alike to secure victory. When Gannicus launches a surprise attack on the rear and turns the siege weapons against them, Crassus sends Caesar to regain control. Upon arriving, Caesar quickly organizes the Roman soldiers into shield formations, effectively countering the rebels' attacks, including Gannicus’s assault.

In the chaos, Caesar personally engages and kills Naevia with ease. However, when facing Gannicus, he finds himself repeatedly outmatched by the former champion's skill. As the battle drags on, Gannicus grows exhausted from repeatedly striking against the Roman shield walls. Sensing an opportunity, Caesar commands his men to step aside before grinning and knocking Gannicus unconscious with the back of his sword.

Following the Roman victory, Caesar watches as both Gannicus and Kore are crucified. He is shocked when Pompey arrives and falsely claims credit for the defeat of Spartacus, stealing the glory from Crassus. However, Crassus chooses to accept the situation, prioritizing an alliance with Pompey over personal recognition. As Pompey departs, Crassus and Caesar exchange final words before setting out to form the First Triumvirate, solidifying their place in Roman history.

Historicity

Living from July 100 BC to March 15, 44 BC, Julius Caesar was a Roman general, statesman, consul, and a distinguished author of Latin prose. He played a pivotal role in the downfall of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire. In 60 BC, he formed a powerful political alliance with Crassus and Pompey, known as the First Triumvirate, which dominated Roman politics for years. Appointed governor of Lower Gaul in 58 BC, he commanded four legions and, in pursuit of wealth and glory, launched the Gallic Wars. By 51 BC, his conquest of Gaul was complete, extending Rome’s territory to the English Channel and the Rhine. Throughout his campaigns in modern-day France, Belgium, and Germany, Caesar demonstrated extraordinary military strategy and leadership.

Following his victories in Gaul, the Roman Senate, fearing his growing power, ordered him to relinquish command and return to Rome. Defying their orders, he famously crossed the Rubicon in 49 BC with his army, effectively declaring war on the Senate. This act ignited a civil war, in which Caesar emerged as Rome’s supreme leader after decisive victories over Pompey, Cato the Younger, and their allies.

Once in control of the Roman government, Caesar initiated widespread social and political reforms, including the introduction of the Julian calendar and the centralization of Rome’s bureaucracy. He was eventually declared Dictator Perpetuus—dictator for life—but his unchecked power fueled resentment among the Senate. On the Ides of March, 44 BC, he was assassinated by a group of senators led by Marcus Junius Brutus, a supposed close friend. His death triggered another series of civil wars, ensuring that the Republic was never restored. Ultimately, his adopted heir, Octavian—later Augustus—consolidated power, marking the beginning of the Roman Empire.

Much of what is known about Caesar comes from his own military writings, as well as contemporary sources like the letters and speeches of Cicero and the historical works of Sallust. Later biographies by Suetonius and Plutarch also provide valuable insights. Caesar is widely regarded as one of history’s greatest military commanders.

Caesar and the Third Servile War

There is no definitive evidence that Caesar participated in the Third Servile War against Spartacus and his rebel army. At the time, he held the elected position of military tribune, a rank roughly equivalent to a modern colonel, with six tribunes assigned to each Roman legion. Given his role as a military officer during the conflict, it is reasonable to assume he may have been involved in some capacity.

However, considering how extensively Caesar’s life was documented by ancient historians, the absence of any record of his direct involvement in the war is noteworthy.

Trivia

• Todd Lasance
• Caesar is frequently referred to as a "Wolf" by various characters. The wolf is a traditional symbol of Rome, rooted in the myth of Romulus and Remus, the city's legendary founders, who were raised by a she-wolf. As a member of the Julii, Caesar claimed descent from Aeneas, an ancestor of Romulus and Remus. Wolves are also known as fierce predators, a fitting comparison to Caesar’s ruthless and cunning nature as both a Roman patriot and a brutal strategist.
• Spartacus likely died in 71 BC at the age of 38, while Julius Caesar was 29 at the time. Historically, they never crossed paths, though Caesar served as a military tribune under Crassus shortly after the war.
• While spying on Spartacus' forces in Sinuessa, Caesar assumes the identity of a Pastor (the origin of the word "pastor"), a herder of animals. In Roman society, pastores were slaves who had significant freedom to move around the countryside and were permitted to carry weapons to defend their flocks. They may have also served as private security on noble estates. Historically, pastores were among the most dangerous fighters in Spartacus' army, second only to the gladiators.
• In Blood Brothers, Caesar ambushes Spartacus and stabs him in the back, foreshadowing his own historical assassination on March 15, 44 BCE, when he was stabbed 23 times by senators, including Brutus.
• In the same episode, Nemetes speaks to Caesar and references the phrase "The die has been cast" (Alea iacta est), which Caesar would famously declare before crossing the Rubicon to challenge Pompey and seize control of Rome.
• Caesar is an enemy of all four rebel generals but has a particularly antagonistic rivalry with Gannicus.
• He engages in individual duels with every major rebel leader except Spartacus, though he does manage to stab him in the back during the Sinuessa ambush.
• Caesar loses in sword fights against both Crixus and Gannicus, and on both occasions, he is saved from death by the timely intervention of Roman soldiers.
• Along with Crassus and Vettius, Caesar is one of the few antagonists to survive the events of the series, though Vettius’ ultimate fate remains unknown.
• The historical Julius Caesar owned a gladiator school in Capua called Ludus Iulianus, established around 49 BC.
• As the son of a patrician senator, Caesar would have held the rank of Tribunus Laticlavius, the second-in-command of a legion. Most military tribunes (Tribuni Angusticlavii) came from the equestrian class and had prior military experience, while Laticlavii, coming from senatorial families, had greater social status despite being less experienced.
• Julius Caesar was born on July 12, 100 BC, in the month of Quintilis, which was later renamed "July" in his honor. In the Roman calendar, this was the year 654 Ab Urbe Condita (since the founding of Rome). Romans would have known it as the Year of the Consulship of Lucius Valerius Flaccus and Gaius Marius—Marius being Caesar's uncle. The dictator Sulla, Marius’ rival, confiscated much of Caesar’s family property as punishment for their loyalty to Marius. Ironically, Crassus, Caesar's future benefactor, was an ally of Sulla.
• Historically, Caesar sought Crassus' patronage due to financial difficulties. His debts influenced many of his later political and military decisions, including his conquest of Gaul, which brought him immense wealth. It is estimated that he sold around half a million Gauls into slavery following his victories.
• Caesar belonged to the Gens Julia, an ancient patrician family that traced its origins to Alba Longa, the legendary birthplace of Romulus and Remus. Alba Longa was said to have been founded by Ascanius, the son of the Trojan exile Aeneas, who, according to Greek mythology, was the son of the mortal Anchises and the goddess Aphrodite (Venus).
• As a child, Caesar was educated by Marcus Antonius Gnipho, a freedman of Gaulish descent and a respected grammarian. Ironically, in his later years, Caesar would conquer Gaul.
• Caesar’s comment that Gannicus’ execution is an "ignoble end" to his legend is ironic, as Caesar himself would later die an ignoble death at the hands of his fellow Romans.