Caesar

In real history Gaius Julius Caesar was one of the most influential rulers known to the world. His credits include the following campaigns: The Helvetic, Belgic, Venetic, German and British campaign. The people of the time either loved him, or hated him. Either way they respected him.

In the universe of Xena however, we are told quite a different story. The character of Julius Caesar (played by actor Karl Urban) is introduced to us in the Season Two episode “Destiny” when the up-and-coming (and still very naïve) warrior Xena manages to capture Caesar’s ship. She is fascinated by him when she learns of his powerful belief in his destiny to one day rule the world. 
This attraction draws her into a one-night affair. Believing him to have fallen for her as much as she had fallen for him, Xena believes his lies that he will join forces with her and make her a part of his “Destiny.” As soon as she trusts him he wrests control of her ship, her loot and then has her and her hung on a cross and her legs broken. He leaves her there to die but Xena is eventually rescued by a slave girl named M’Lila who teaches her (among other things) the infamous pinch. (If you pay close attention to the shirt M’Lila wears, you will notice a familiar design. Yes, that’s right! It’s the design Xena goes on to pattern her breastplate after. Its very subtle but if you notice it, its also very touching)

The relationship Xena shares with Julius Caesar only worsens with time. He makes his return in the Season Three episode “The Deliverer.” This time he is going into battle against Boadicea (this didn’t actually happen in history because Julius Caesar came along about a hundred years after Boadicea but nevermind that) in his campaign against Britain. It is here that Xena becomes so focused on getting her revenge against Caesar that she turns a blind eye to what is happening with Gabrielle and her new friends in a cult to a one god.

After “The Deliverer” we see Caesar in four more episodes:
1-“When In Rome” (Season Three) when Xena must stop him from killing the Gaul freedom fighter Vercinix.

2-“A Good Day”(Season Four) when Xena must save Greece from Caesar and Pompey’s plans to lay siege to her country in an effort to defeat the other and take over Rome.

3-“Endgame” (Season Four. He has only a small role in this one) When Xena must save Ephiny’s tribe from Roman invasion after Ephiny is killed by Brutus in battle. 4-And lastly “Ides Of March”(Season Four) When Callisto is sent by the forces of Hell to fulfill the prophecy of Alti’s vision to Xena of her and Gabrielle being nailed to crosses and to put Julius Caesar in power once and for all. Callisto is successful in getting Xena and Gabrielle crucified by Caesar’s order, but the seeds of doubt planted early on by Xena take hold of Brutus, who then goes on to convince the Senate that Caesar is a threat to Rome, not a help, and they execute him.

As of this writing there are no other episodes featuring Julius Caesar until the Season Six episode “When Fates Collide.” In this episode Caesar escapes from his torturous afterlife, chains up the three Fates Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos, then lays siege to the Loom of Life. He cuts the strings of time preparing to rethread the Loom to change his destiny. It is when he sees an image of Xena seducing him in the episode “Destiny” (in which he made his appearance into the Xenaverse), that he decides to change his relationship with Xena and makes her his wife instead of his enemy.

That is the story of Julius Caesar in the world of Xena, and it hasn’t been a happy one has it?

-Caina Q. Fuller