The Curious Sex Life of Julius Caesar
By: Peter Preskar
Tags: Sexuality, Cleopatra, History, Caesar, Roman

The Curious Sex Life of Julius Caesar

Every woman’s man, every man’s woman

Gallic leader Vercingetorix surrendered to Caesar in 52 BC (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Today, Julius Caesar has an image of a stoic leader, founder of the Roman Empire, and a general who conquered barbaric Gauls. However, the less known fact is Caesar had a very lively sex life. So lively that even his Legions would sing songs about it during long marches. In his youth, Caesar was famous for cross-dressing and playing the role of a woman in a relationship with other men.

Known to Romans more as penetrated than penetrator, sexually speaking Caesar was both. As a young man, he spent a lot of time the court of King Nicomedes IV in Bithynia, modern-day Turkey, and this fact alone fueled rumors which followed Caesar for his entire life.

Even his most loyal legionaries were chanting:

Caesar might have conquered the Gauls but Nicomedes conquered him.

In Roman times sexual relationships between two men were acceptable, however, being in a submissive role in such a relationship was damaging to the reputation of the masculine leader of legions.

Indeed, this was the only “stain” on Caesar's image of the tireless seducer. It was said no woman, no wife, and no daughter was safe before Caesar.

Roman fresco from a room in Pompeii (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Caesar was notoriously famous for seducing wives of his allies and using sex with aristocratic women to improve his political status. He also spent an enormous amount of money, often public money, on the number of prostitutes.

Caesar was given the nickname “bad adulterer”.

During one of Caesar’s triumphs, his soldiers were singing:

Men of Rome, watch out for your wives,We’re bringing the bald adulterer home.In Gaul he f*cked his way through a fortune. Which he borrowed here in Rome.

Julius Caesar was a tall man (most Romans were not) and had a fashion sense. In his younger years, he was considered a handsome man. It is said he had a good sense of humor (even at his own expense). All that contributed him to being a ladies’ man.

He married three times, yet this hasn’t stopped Caesar from taking the number of mistresses. His wives were:

Cornelia. They married due to political reasons. She gave birth to Julia, Caesar’s only legitimate child. She died in 69 BC.

They married due to political reasons. She gave birth to Julia, Caesar’s only legitimate child. She died in 69 BC. Pompeia. Caesar divorced her after a scandal in which Publius Clodius Pulcher, dressed as a woman, was found at the ceremony to the Bona Dea at which no men were permitted. Caesar famously said that his wife “must be above suspicion.”

Caesar divorced her after a scandal in which Publius Clodius Pulcher, dressed as a woman, was found at the ceremony to the Bona Dea at which no men were permitted. Caesar famously said that his wife “must be above suspicion.” Calpurnia. Calpurnia stayed devoted to him despite Caesar’s numerous mistresses, which included Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. She told him about her dream of his assassination.

In Roman times the definition of marriage wasn’t to stay loyal to your spouse. It was allowed to have sex with other women and men as long as it wasn’t humiliating to Roman society and carried out in a discreet manner.

Cleopatra being smuggled into Caesar’s chamber (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Caesar’s most famous mistress was indeed the Queen of Egypt — Cleopatra. Legend of Cleopatra being wrapped in huge carpet and smuggled to Caesar past her brother’s guards is well-known.

Cleopatra and Caesar had a son together- Caesarian, meaning “Little Caesar”. It is widely believed affair between Cleopatra and Caesar was a one-night stand.

Cleopatra and Caesar were never married since it was against Roman law.