The Scandal that Haunted Julius Caesar #history

Throughout his life, Julius Caesar was subject to scandal and gossip. As a 19 year old, he was just another junior officer trying to make his name on the staff of the Governor of the Roman Province of Asia, modern day Western Turkey.

When he was sent as an envoy to the client kingdom of Bithynia to request military aid Caesar stayed far longer than necessary, as a guest of the ageing King Nicomedes IV and then hurried back almost immediately on the pretext of collecting a debt.

It was rumoured that he had acted in the subservient role as cup-bearer to the king and lain with him on a golden couch swathed in purple. The rumours never went away and when Caesar grew more powerful later in life, they turned to crude taunts that he had been the “Queen of Bithynia”.

To quell the gossip, Caesar swore a formal oath that the story of his liaison with the king was untrue… which of course only fuelled suspicion further.

Music: Claude-Paul Taffanel: Andante Pastoral et Scherzettino. Alex Murray (flute) and Martha Goldstein (piano) CC2.0

[MrLee-cypw]

It was very common to accuse your political rivals of being a bottom.

[dominicganteaume]

Tabloid gossip has very ancient precedents.

[alexanderbrambila]

The issue here isn't that he had sex with a man. The issue is he would have been the bottom in the relationship. Emperor hadiran and Trajan were strong manly emperors who had male lovers out in public. As long as you were the sword and not the scabbard it didnt matter

[waltergibson]

In the Colleen Mccollough book series, Ceasar answered these rumors by sleeping with the wives of his accusers.

[richter]

Hilarious that "Youre gay" was used as a pejorative even back then.

[mesajongte]

"You Gae!" has been going on since antiquity. 😂

[jiachengwu]

"Ceasar conquered Gaul, but Nicomidis conquered Caesar" 😅

[mongoose]

"Friends, Romans, countrymen...lend me your queers."

[nijadbahnam]

Cicero said about Ceasar :" husband to every wife in Rome and Wife to every Husband in Rome ."

[camhamster]

Every woman's man, every man's woman.

[jodawson]

It wasnt a problem, in fact it was quite acceptable back then as long as you were the active one and not the passive. Sadly it was often on young slave boys under 13 years.

[gljm]

The Roman Statesman Gaius Curio who noted Caesar's "Proclivities" said of him that Caesar was " Every woman's man and every man's woman".

[Kent]

People who care don't matter, people who matter don't care.

[rainmcmey]

This is a fine example of what bullying can do to a person.

[angbandsbane]

Conquer a thousand women (including the last pharoah of Egypt and about 90% of your rivals' wives) but sleep with one king and you go to your grave a king's boytoy.

[maricapobianco]

Antinous was an honored guest in your video about Cesar. This boy's beauty preceded his own existence.

[Lookup]

So Julius was “Hot and Ready” like lil Caesar’s

[Cashtgk]

Caesar: daddy chill
Senator:WTH was that

[Treblaine]

"I did not have sexual relations with that monarch: King Nicomedes."

[alfredspic]

"The Cup bearer" what was he cupping? 😊😊😊😊