Introduction (01)
Classical Roman / Xenaverse Timeline (02-78)
Classical Egyptian Timeline versus Xenaverse Timeline (79-117)
Roman And Egyptian Xenaverse Timeline By Episodes (118-129)
Notes
Bibliography
Biography

The Xenaverse Caesar, Julius Caesar.

Introduction

^[1] Roman history was rich in its complexity and tapestry. Xena: Warrior Princess (X:WP) presented some of the highlights and flavor of that history. The show introduced such diverse people as Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great, and events such as the Roman Civil War. Eventually, however, the Xenaverse created its own Roman history, which does not follow classical history. Using the two timelines, I will provide a commentary on their similarities and differences. (I also include an Egyptian timeline where it intersects with the Roman and Xenaverse ones.)

Classical Roman / XenaVerse Timeline

100 BCE

^[2] Birth of Gaius Julius Caesar (AKA Caesar, Julius Caesar).

^[3] In Classical Roman history, Caesar was twice the age of Xena. Caesar was a brilliant politician and superb general. Always conscious of his 'destiny', Caesar claimed that he was descended from Aeneas, the legendary founder of Rome and the son of Venus (Goddess of Love). Vain, Caesar combed his thinning hair over his balding head, and tried to hide his epilepsy. In addition, he was a notorious rake.

^[4] The Xenaverse Caesar has the same character as the Classical one. The major differences are that he is the same age as Xena and has a full head of hair.

73 - 71 BCE

^[5] The slave revolt of Spartacus, an escaped gladiator from Thrace, occurs. ^{[Note 01]}

^[6] Marcus Licinius Crassus (AKA Crassus), Rome's richest citizen, wanted military glory. He suppressed Spartacus' forces, after they defeated four Roman armies. After putting down the slave revolt, Crassus lined the Appian Way with the crosses of 6,000 crucified slaves.

^[7] The Xenaverse Crassus is the same in character as the Classical Crassus. In WHEN IN ROME... (62/316), Crassus is believed to have murdered at least hundred woman and children while fighting Vercinix of Gaul.

70 BCE

^[8] First consulship of Pompey and Crassus occurs.

^[9] Before they formed the first Triumvirate with Caesar, Crassus and Pompey served as consuls together. Crassus won his position because of his obscene wealth. Gnaenus Pompeius (AKA Pompeius Magnus AKA Pompey, The Great), who was a successful general, demanded his position. Pompey was known for his able leadership, generosity, and military successes. He was also a close friend of Caesar.

^[10] The Xenaverse Pompey is a "kinder, gentler" version of Xenaverse Caesar.

70 BCE

^[11] Vergil (AKA Publius Vergilius Maro AKA Virgil) is born.

^[12] Virgil, the famous Roman poet, was born in the Roman countryside to a modest farm family.

^[13] The Xenaverse Virgil, who is Joxer's son, is born about fifty years later.

67 - 62 BCE

^[14] Pompey goes to the East to fight pirates and Mithridates VI of Pontus (Asia Minor).

^[15] While Rome was embroiled in various civil wars, pirates controlled much of the Mediterranean Sea. They laid waste to shipping and took Roman officers for ransom. A determined Pompey cleared the sea of pirates.

^[16] After defeating Mithridates in Asia Minor, Pompey conquered Armenia and marched north into Georgia. During his campaign, he encountered women warriors that the Greeks called Amazons. Unable to defeat the southern Russians, Pompey retreated to Asia Minor.

^[17] The Xenaverse Pompey does not fight the Amazons until the Xenaverse Roman Civil War. These Amazons are Greek, not the `Russian' ones.

^[18] I would place the Xenaverse Caesar being captured by Pirate Xena during this time. However, the Classical Brutus was much younger than the Xenaverse Brutus and did not know Caesar at this time [DESTINY (36/212)].

63 BCE

^[19] Caesar is elected Pontifex Maximus.

^[20] As the leading priest of the Roman State cults, Caesar moved closer to his goal of total rule as a Roman dictator.

^[21] The full career of the Xenaverse Caesar is unknown.

63 BCE

^[22] Octavius is born.

^[23] Marcus Octavius (AKA Octavius AKA Octavian AKA Augustus) became Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (Caesar's official heir) after being adopted by his great uncle Caesar.

^[24] In the Xenaverse, as in Classical Rome, Octavius is young when his great uncle Caesar is killed.

60 BCE

^[25] First Triumvirate (Pompey, Crassus, and Caesar) comes into being.

^[26] Xena destroys the Xenaverse Triumvirate when she has Caesar execute Crassus by mistake [WHEN IN ROME... (62/316)].

58 - 50 BCE

^[27] Caesar campaigns in Gaul.

^[28] In 58 BCE, Caesar was named Governor of Cisalpine Gaul and Transalpine Gaul (provinces bordering Italy). After the Helvetians invaded Gaul from Switzerland, Caesar defeated them, and conquered more of their territory. Later he fought the Gauls in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. During one of his campaigns, Caesar defeated the Gaul leader Vercingetorix in 52 BCE.

^[29] In the Xenaverse, Caesar invades Britannia before he campaigns in Gaul. However, in his Gaul campaign, he captures the Gaul chieftain, Vercinix, to return to Rome for execution [WHEN IN ROME... (62/316)].

55 - 54 BCE

^[30] Caesar unsuccessfully invades Britannia twice.

^[31] In the Xenaverse, Caesar invades Britannia and fights Queen Boadicea. While Gabrielle tangles with Dahak and loses, Xena and Boadicea defeat Caesar [THE DELIVERER (50/304)] ^{[Note 02]}.

53 BCE

^[32] Battle of Carrhae (Iraq)and the Death of Crassus occur.

^[33] The most ambitious and the least competent of the three generals, Crassus decided to invade the Parthian Empire (Syria, Palestine, Iraq, and Iran) to break its stranglehold of the Near East. At the battle of Carrhae in northern Iraq, the Parthians roundly defeated his legions. After the Parthians promised Crassus a treaty, they murdered him, using his head for sport ^{[Note 03]}.

^[34] In the Xenaverse, Xena travels to Syria to capture Crassus to exchange for Vercinix. With Gabrielle's help, she switches the prisoners in a Roman jail. Later, Crassus is executed in the Circus Maximus by error [WHEN IN ROME... (62/316)] ^{[Note 04]}.

49 - 48 BCE

^[35] There is a Civil war between Caesar and Pompey.

Caesar and Pompey -- like oil and water.

^[36] After Crassus' death, Caesar and Pompey divided their rule of Roman territory: Caesar had Italy and Gaul, and Pompey had Greece and the East. Pompey, however, wanted more and plotted to have Caesar deposed. To that end, Pompey convinced the Roman Senate to order Caesar to give up his army and return to Rome or face charges of treason. Doing neither, Caesar crossed the Rubicon (a small steam between Cisalpine Gaul and Roman Italy) with his army. Upon entering Rome, he seized the Republic's treasury. Alarmed by Caesar's audacity, Pompey fled to Greece with his legions, where Caesar savagely pursued him ^{[Note 05]}.

^[37] In the Xenaverse, a skirmish between Caesar and Pompey happens in Greece. Through Xena's machinations, neither wins and both leave Greece [A GOOD DAY (73/405)].

^[38] According to the Hercaverse, after Caesar leaves Greece, he invades Eire, where Hercules and Morrigan defeat him [RENDER UNTO CAESAR (H86/505)]. Classical Caesar never invaded Eire.

48 BCE

^[39] Battle of Pharalus (Greece) occurs and Pompey is murdered.

^[40] Sure of success, Pompey decided to engage Caesar at Pharalus. When Caesar handily defeated his army, a shocked Pompey fled to Egypt. He wanted to get the support of the wealthy boy-King Ptolemy XIII (Cleopatra's younger brother). However, to curry favor with the winner (Caesar), Ptolemy had Pompey stabbed to death when he stepped from his ship. Upon Caesar's arrival in Egypt, Ptolemy handed him Pompey's head. Roman tradition states that Caesar wept at the murder of his former friend.

^[41] The Xenaverse Pompey fights the Greek Amazons and captures them for slaves. Xena leads the remaining Amazons in a victorious battle against Pompey. When Pompey tries to kill Xena, she beheads him. Later, she hands Pompey's head to Brutus to deliver to Caesar. Unlike Classical Caesar, Xenaverse Caesar is more concerned about Xena's presence than the fate of Pompey [ENDGAME (88/420)].

48 - 44 BCE

^[42] Caesar rules as dictator.

^[43] During his brief tenure as dictator, Caesar expanded Roman citizenship to include other Italians, increased the membership of the Senate, and introduced a new calendar. Although Caesar steadfastly refused the title of 'King', Cicero and other senators believed that he would declare himself Emperor. In a supreme irony, Caesar was stabbed to death at the foot of Pompey's statue in the Senate's meeting room.

^[44] Originally Pompey's friend, Marcus Junius Brutus (AKA Brutus) was pardoned by Caesar. Surprised by his great kindness, Brutus became Caesar's close friend. However, after becoming alarmed at Caesar's overweening ambition, he plotted to assassinate Caesar on the Ides of March.

^[45] In Classical Rome, a bright comet appeared at Caesar's funeral in Rome. Those present believed his soul ascended to the heavens to become a god. Later in his reign, Augustus had Caesar worshipped as a god.

^[46] In the Xenaverse, Xena convinces Brutus that Caesar is dangerous and must be stopped. After Caesar captures Xena and Gabrielle, he sentences them to death by crucifixion. While Xena and Gabrielle are being executed in a far off mountain, Brutus stabs Caesar outside the Senate [IDES OF MARCH (89/421)].

^[47] After Xena and Gabrielle die, their souls ascend to heaven, where they eventually become angels before returning to earth [FALLEN ANGEL (91/501)].

^[48] Xenaverse Brutus is Caesar's close companion and steadfast friend. However, after he kills Caesar, Brutus becomes as power hungry as his former friend.

43 - 33 BCE

^[49] Second Triumvirate (Antony, Lepidus, Octavian) comes into being.

^[50] After Caesar's death, Octavian raced to Rome to claim his inheritance from his adopted father. Because of Octavian's young age, a second Triumvirate was formed with Marcus Antonius (AKA Marc Antony), who was serving as a consul, and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (AKA Lepidus), Caesar's close friend and second-in- command. Unfortunately, the three men got along like scorpions in a bottle.

^[51] In the Xenaverse, there is no Second Triumvirate. Xenaverse Brutus governs Rome while Octavian flees to Egypt.

43 BCE

^[52] The Battle of Philippi (Macedonia) occurs, and Brutus kills himself.

Brutus lives on borrowed time.

^[53] Brutus believed that the Romans would be relieved by Caesar's death. However, the opposite happened. Angry Romans rioted and set Brutus' house on fire. He then fled to Macedonia.

^[54] Antony and Octavius pursued Brutus to Philippi and defeated him. To avoid capture, Brutus killed himself. According to Classical tradition, Caesar's ghost visited Brutus chiding him on his disloyalty.

^[55] In the Xenaverse, Brutus is ruling Rome after Caesar's death. However, Marc Antony challenges his rule. To thwart Antony, Brutus has Cleopatra killed so he could claim her navy. Upon arriving in Egypt, he finds Xena impersonating Cleopatra. While fighting Marc Antony, he sees the Egyptian fleet attacking his Roman ships. Enraged at Xena's betrayal, Brutus tries to kill Gabrielle, who kills him instead in self-defense [ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA (108/518).

38 BCE

^[56] Octavian marries Livia.

^[57] Like Caesar before him, Octavian had a prodigious sex life. Of all his liaisons, Octavian said he loved Livia the most. Their marriage was a second one for both of them.

^[58] The Classical Livia was a notorious poisoner who strove to keep political power within her family.

^[59] The Xenaverse Livia (AKA Eve) is Xena's second child and Octavian's stepdaughter. After Xena and Gabrielle are believed dead, Octavian, who is watching Livia, takes her to Rome and raises her. He loves her, but Ares, Greek god of war, seduces her first. When Xena and Gabrielle return from the 'dead', they find Livia killing the followers of Eli [LIVIA (110/520)].

36 BCE

^[60] Lepidus ceases to be a triumvir.

^[61] Octavius wanted total power for himself. Like Caesar, Octavius believed his destiny was to rule Rome. Through the use of military force, he demanded a permanent consulship. Meanwhile, Lepidus also wanted to rule alone. To achieve that end, he tried to kidnap Octavius in Sicily but failed. Octavius allows Lepidus to live but kept him under house arrest.

^[62] Whether Lepidus exists in the Xenaverse is unknown.

^[63] The Xenaverse Octavius is a trusted friend of Xena and Gabrielle. He is not as power hungry as the Classical Octavius.

31 BCE

^[64] Battle of Actium occurs.

^[65] Octavius defeated the combined armies of Cleopatra and Antony (See EGYPTIAN TIMELINE).

29 - 19 BCE

^[66] Vergil composes his "Aeneid" and dies.

^[67] A son of a small farmer, the shy, reserved poet went to Rome when he was eighteen. In his poetry, especially the "Georgics", Vergil showed his profound love for all living things.

"Oh! all too happy tillers of the soil,
Could they but know their blessedness, for whom
Far from the clash of arms all-equal earth
Pours from the ground herself their easy fare!"

^[68] After accepting Augustus as dictator, Vergil became his protege. In 29 BCE, Vergil began the "Aeneid", his greatest work. His main character, Aeneas was a paragon of Roman virtues: family devotion, loyalty to the State, and piety. The "Aeneid" defined Rome's mission in the world: to restore peace and to rule - "The Romans, lords of the world, the race that wears the toga"^{[Note 06]}.

^[69] The Xenaverse Virgil is the young son of Joxer and Meg. A simple man, he is a promising bard, who avidly listens to his father's tall tales. Later, Gabrielle encourages him to write his stories. After his father is killed by Livia, Virgil seeks revenge but decides not kill her [LIVIA (110/520); EVE (111/521)].

27 BCE

^[70] The Legislation of the Augustan Principate [First Citizen] occurs.

^[71] The Romans hailed Octavius as their Deliverer (The Bringer of Peace) and made him the defacto Emperor. At this time, Octavius changed his name to Imperator Caesar, the son of the god Caesar. Afterwards, he was called Augustus ^{[Note 07]}.

^[72] The Xenaverse Octavius changes his name to Augustus. When he encounters Xena and Gabrielle again, Augustus is ruling Rome [LIVIA (110/520)].

6 BCE

^[73] In the Xenaverse, Xena and Gabrielle return from "death".

^[74] The relationship between Xenaverse time and Classical Roman time is Boolean. The two timelines twist and turn on the other.

12 CE

^[75] Classical Augustus dies.

^[76] The Romans said, "Augustus found Rome in bricks and left it in marble".

10 CE

^[77] Classical Livia dies.

^[78] After securing the throne for her son Tiberius (Augustus' stepson), Livia dies two years later.

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