Who was Caesar? And why was a salad named after him?
The original Caesar was Julius Caesar--the great Roman soldier, statesman, dictator, and author of the first century BC. His nephew, Octavian, later changed his own name to Caesar Augustus. (Augustus in Latin means majestic or venerable.) It seems that from this time onward, Roman emperors favored the title Caesar. So there was not technically one "Caesar"; there were many.
As for the salad, this is what I found on the internet: "A salad consisting of greens (classically, Romaine Lettuce) tossed with a garlic Vinaigrette dressing (made with Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice), grated Parmesan cheese, croutons, a coddled egg and sometimes anchovies. It is said to have been created in 1924 by Italian chef Caesar Cardini, who owned a restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico."
So it is doubtful that Julius (not Erving, or Orange, but Caesar) ever tasted a true Caesar Salad!
Enough frivolity! To return from Mexico to Rome... Caesar Augustus was emperor when Jesus was born, just as Tiberius was the Caesar when he was crucified. Following is a list of caesars and their dates from the beginning of the empire to the time of Constantine, when church and state contracted their fatal marriage alliance. Each man has an interesting story, and there is no shortage of books about these leaders of what was once the most powerful country on earth.
Augustus 27 BC-14 AD
Tiberius 14-37 AD
Caligula 37-41 AD
Claudius 41-54 AD
Nero 54-68 AD
Galba 68-69 AD
Otto 69 AD
Vitellius 69 AD
Vespasian 69-79 AD
Titus 79-81 AD
Domitian 81-96 AD
Nerva 96-98 AD
Trajan 98-117 AD
Hadrian 117-138 AD
Antoninus Pius 138-161 AD
Marcus Aurelius 161-180 AD
Commodus 180-192 AD
Pertinax 192 AD
Septimus Severus 193-211 AD
Carcalla 198-217 AD
Macrinus 217 AD
Elagabalus 218-222 AD
Alexander Severus 222-235 AD
Maximinus 235-238 AD
Gordian III 238-244 AD
Philip 244-249 AD
Decius 249-251 AD
Gallus 251 AD
Valerian/Gallienus 253-260 AD
Gallienus 260-268 AD
Claudius II 268-270 AD
Aurelian 270-275 AD
Probus 276-282 AD
Carus 282 AD
Diocletian 284-305 AD
Maximian 286-305 AD
Constantius & Galerius 305 AD
Constantine 306-337 AD
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