What did Julius Caesar Know?

"When their enemies were at the gates, the Romans would suspend democracy and appoint one man to defend the city. It wasn't considered an honor, it was considered a public service."

"...[But] the last man to be appointed to protect the Republic was named Caesar and he never gave up his power."

I always loved this conversation. (This will serve as our RMQ for today. See below.) I'm not sure how accurate this little history lesson is, but I thought it was fascinating the first time I heard it.

Though no one is entirely sure of the etymology (word history) of the name Caesar, what we do know is that it came from the family name of one Julius Caesar and it came to mean supreme Emperor. I often wonder if Julius Caesar, who without question was an ambitious man, could have had any idea how far his influence would truly reach.

Not only did it permeate every part of the Roman Empire until it's fall (which serves as the history and ancient foundation of nearly every society on earth) but it would go on to influence many nations and lands, even generations after the Roman Empire had crumbled to dust.

Kaiser is the German word for Caesar, but there are similar words in Swedish, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, Faroese, Icelandic, and old English.

When Ivan the Terrible had himself crowned Tsar/Czar, he in truth crowned himself Caesar, as Tsar is the Russian equivalent of Caesar. Eleven other Slavic languages from different parts of the East also have similar words.

African, Hebrew, Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Georgian, Estonian, Finnish, Hungarian, Albanian and Armenian all have versions of the word as well.

Even the Seljuk Turks (think Aladdin) whose Sultan was proclaimed Kayser-i-Rum (Caesar of Rome) or in other words, the Muslim heir to the Roman Empire.

Caesar's reach is felt even today in our culture and politics. It makes you wonder about his character, personality and origins.

What do you think? Did Caesar imagine what the extent of his influence would be? Do you think the story about the enemy at the gates is true?

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Random Movie Quotes

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Today's RMQ is the one I began the post with. This is actually two lines by two different characters having a conversation. One point for naming the film, each of the actors and each of the characters, which means there are five possible points to be gathered for today's RMQ. Here it is again:

"When their enemies were at the gates, the Romans would suspend democracy and appoint one man to defend the city. It wasn't considered an honor, it was considered a public service."

"...[But] the last man to be appointed to protect the Republic was named Caesar and he never gave up his power."

Any guesses?

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