Julius Caesar
100 BC - 15th March, 44 BC
Julius Caesar's popularity had been increasing for a while through the use of popular politics. He was following in the footsteps of his uncle, Marius, and his father-in-law, Cinna. Caesar even managed to secure his election to the position of pontifex maximus, the head of the Roman religion, despite facing two experienced senators for the position. It has been suggested that bribery was involved in securing his role. Suetonius suggested that he secured the role through "the most lavish bribery" (Julius Caesar 13).