Cicero was later to maintain in several letters that Caesar, “descendant of Venus, lost his virginity in Bithynia.” This accusation was widely repeated by his opponents in years to come, although why so much importance was given to the imputation it is hard to see since homosexuality was hardly unknown in the Rome of that day. It was, however, loosely associated by the old conservative aristocrats (such as Caesar’s own parents), with the degeneracy of Greece and with the effeminacy of the rich and indolent East.

The incident became widely known in Rome, having presumably been reported by the merchants who were present at the banquet, and certainly had a damaging effect on Caesar’s reputation. Years later, on the occasion of his Gallic triumph, his soldiers following his decorated chariot through the city chanted ribald songs, as they were privileged to do on such occasions. One of them, as will be seen, referring to Nicomedes and Caesar, was enough to make him lose his temper.

On this occasion, Caesar protested vigorously and swore that the whole story was false, but he was never allowed to forget it even though he later became known as one of the most notorious womanizers in Rome. Cornelius Dolabella, who had every reason to hate Caesar since the latter had, unsuccessfully, prosecuted him for maladministration in Macedonia, called him “the female rival of Bithynia’s queen,” and “the bottom half of the royal bed.” C. Scribonius Curio, who was consul in 77, called him “Nicomedes’ bride,” “the brothel of Bithynia,” and “every woman’s husband and every man’s wife.” Years later, when Nicomedes was dead, Caesar, speaking in the senate in defense of some dependents of the late King, reminded his audience that he was obligated to Nicomedes, “for numerous favors.” Cicero interrupted him with “Let us pass over that, I pray you, since there is no one who is unaware of what he gave you and what he received in return.” Suetonius quotes two lines from a satirical poem by Licinius Calvus, a well known orator and poet of the time:

 

The riches of Bithynia’s King

Who Caesar on his couch abused.

 

The truth of the matter will never be known, and it seems of small relevance in the light of Caesar’s life. Like many a young man he may have passed through a homosexual phase. It bothered nineteenth-century historians but need not trouble us today, although Caesar himself was to suffer from the scandal. He did in fact compound the error that gave rise to it, by returning to Bithynia after seeing the fleet safely to the blockade of Mitylene; “on the pretext of having to deliver a sum to some client of his,” Suetonius writes.

It is clear though that Caesar, unlike many of the young nobles who hung around the courts of generals and propraetors, took his military duties seriously. After the successful storming of Mitylene in 80 he was decorated with the civic crown by Minucius Thermus. The corona civica was a wreath of oak leaves awarded to those who had saved the life of a fellow soldier in battle, and although some commanders gave them away too freely, it is doubtful if Caesar’s was anything other than a genuine award, since Minucius Thermus was a supporter of Sulla and the Optimates. The holder of this highly honored decoration, which might be worn on all festive occasions, was entitled to sit next to the senators at the public games, and when he appeared on the scene all the spectators, senators included, rose to their feet. It had long been established that the award in the case of senators’ sons gave them a preferential position in the “Honors List,” which may explain (something which has puzzled many commentators) why Caesar was able to become consul in 59 at the age of forty, when forty-two was usually the minimum age for the consulate.

The Mitylene campaign was soon over and the troops of Minucius Thermus were to be dismissed. Hearing that the governor of Cilicia, the southeasternmost corner of Asia Minor, was about to embark on a campaign against the pirates who haunted the creeks and river-mouths of the area, Caesar went to offer him his services. He was already with the Governor’s forces when, in 78, the news reached him that Sulla was dead and Caesar left immediately for Italy. He hoped no doubt to take advantage of the confusion that would follow the dictator’s death, but he arrived to find that, as Suetonius put it, “the political atmosphere was less favorable than he had been led to believe.” An insurrection had begun, led by one of the consuls, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, who had assumed the leadership of the Populares. This might have seemed to appeal to Caesar, especially when he was earnestly asked to join it and “magnificent offers” were made to him. However, with remarkably cool judgment for a young man of twenty-two, he appraised the situation carefully—and correctly. The Sullans still had a large majority in the senate while Lepidus did not have the strength of character or capabilities to achieve success. When the whole enterprise collapsed in ruins Caesar’s judgment was confirmed and he himself emerged completely unscathed.

Caesar had been away from Rome for three years and now was his first chance to renew his acquaintanceship with public affairs and to cast around for the direction in which his ambitions might find fulfilment. It is clear that he had no desire for the career for which he had early been trained, the priesthood, and he was neither rich enough, nor temperamentally inclined, to idle away his days as did many young upper-class Romans. He needed first of all to get himself known, and inevitably turned toward the Forum. One path to a political career, the one which Cicero adopted, was that of rhetoric and the law. Caesar had received an excellent education, and his acute mind, coupled with his training in

Greek and Latin rhetoric, made him look for a cause where he could acquire the most publicity, as well as laying the foundation of a solid reputation. He made his start by prosecuting Gnaeus Cornelius Dolabella (the same who, inflamed with hatred, would accuse him of homosexual relations with Nicomedes). Dolabella was one of the leading Sullans—the dictator had nominated him for the consulship in 81—and had recently been accorded a triumph in Rome for some rather obscure military exploits. Subsequently he had been governor of Macedonia where he had exceeded in his rapacity even the limits normally extended to governors of provinces, who were expected to make their fortunes during this summer period of their lives. The only action that could be taken to redress the complaints of the governed and overtaxed (robbed, would be more accurate) was for a Roman citizen to come forward as prosecutor. A complaint was formally laid before the tribunal outlining the intended form of the indictment and backed by evidence from the complainants. In the event, the wealthy Dolabella secured the services of two of the greatest lawyers of the day, one of whom, Aurelius Cotta, was a kinsman of Caesar, and managed with their help to get acquitted. Caesar had lost his first case, but he had achieved his main object: he had won great credit as an orator, and the very fact that the accused had felt himself in need of such eminent men to secure his acquittal added luster to Caesar’s reputation.

It is clear that his Greek clients were also impressed by his performance (his speeches survived in document and were regarded in Rome as a literary masterpiece), and the following year he was entrusted with the case against another Sullan. This was Gaius Antonius Hybrida, who, during Sulla’s campaign in Greece, had looted and pillaged a great number of Greek cities.