Julius Caesar

Caesar sought the office of consul in 60 BC. He had recently returned from Spain where he served a year as governor. The two consuls at the time were Crassus and Pompey, the leaders of the war against the slave revolt. Rather than become involved in a struggle, Caesar convinced Crassus, Pompey, and the Roman Senate to name him a third consul. This coalition of three equal rulers later became known as the First Triumvirate. When Caesar's year-long term as consul ended, he used his influence to get himself appointed governor of Gaul. Gaul was a territory northwest of thge Italian peninsula.