Marriage to Calpurnia, Julia's Bethroal to Pompey, and Governor of Gaul

It was a great time being Consul to the greatest Republic in the world. I married Calpurnia, the daughter of Lucius Piso, who was my successor to the Consulship I hold. It was not the only marriage between Roman consuls. I betrothed my dearest daughter, Julia, to wed my co-consul, Gnaeus Pompey. The small problem was that Julia was engaged to Servilius Caepio. Servilius had recently expressed his support for me in my efforts against Bibulus. It was a horrible blow that I had to commit against such a supporter, but I need to make important ties with Pompey. To hold ties with a co-consul would present significant opportunities in the future. I always go to Pompey to present debates in the Senate. He flouted the tradition that a consul would continute throughout his consulship term, a year, to preserve precedence and order established for speakers on the Kalends of January in the Senate.
It wasn't long after the weddings that I secured the goodwill of my father-in-law, Piso, and the goodwill of Pompey. It was then I began to look at the providences of Rome: Hispania, Africanus, Gaul, etc. After short consideration of all the possible providences, the good choice was Gaul. Only Gaul would provide a good conquest of wealth and triumph. However, I was appointed governor of Cisalpine Gaul and Illyricum. Vatinius proposed the governorship to me, but after Vatinius' proposal, the Senate added Transalpine Gaul to my jurisdiction. I believe the Senate proposed to add Transalpine Gaul to my jurisdiction because they feared that people would demand that I should have the providence if it were to be denied to me. I was so elated by this appointment that I couldn't help speak to others about it, including senators. Some people though that I was just 'stomping' upon my opponents by boasting, but perhaps, I couldn't help myself. Someone interjected with a sneer as I was speaking to others, and they stated that a woman would find the appointment not easy. I answered with pride, "Why not? Semiramis was supreme in Syria, and the Amazons once ruled over a large part of Asia."


Sources Used:

Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars, Penguin Classics Revised Edition, December 18, 2007. Print