Julius Caesar likely had epilepsy, documented by ancient Roman writers including Plutarch and Suetonius, though some modern scholars believe his seizures may have been caused by strokes or other conditions.
Did Julius Caesar Really Have Epilepsy?
The image of Julius Caesar collapsing mid-speech, gripped by convulsions, comes straight from ancient sources. But did Rome's most famous dictator actually have epilepsy, or was something else going on?
Multiple Roman historians documented Caesar's condition. Plutarch specifically used the Greek word epileptikoîs (epileptic fits) in his biography. Suetonius described "sudden fainting fits," while Appian mentioned "convulsions." These weren't vague rumors—they were documented observations from people who lived closer to Caesar's time.
The Seizures That Shaped History
Caesar likely experienced at least four major episodes during his career. He collapsed while listening to Cicero give an oration. He had a seizure in the Senate while being offered the Emperor's Crown. During military campaigns near Thapsus in North Africa and Corduba in Spain, he suffered attacks that temporarily incapacitated him.
For a military commander and politician, these episodes were dangerous vulnerabilities. Yet Caesar never let them derail his ambitions.
What Was Really Wrong?
Modern doctors aren't so sure about the epilepsy diagnosis. A 2015 study suggested Caesar may have suffered mini-strokes (transient ischemic attacks) based on symptoms including:
- Weakness in the limbs
- Dizziness and severe headaches
- Sudden loss of consciousness
Other proposed diagnoses include malaria, hypoglycemia, brain tumors, or parasitic infections. The challenge is that the Greek term for epilepsy in Plutarch's era didn't always mean what we call epilepsy today—it was used for any illness with seizure-like symptoms.
Divine Possession or Political Spin?
Here's where it gets interesting: In ancient Rome, epilepsy was sometimes called the "divine disease" because seizures were believed to be signs of divine possession. Some historians speculate Caesar may have encouraged the epilepsy association for political benefit, turning a medical condition into proof of his special connection to the gods.
Whether it was epilepsy, strokes, or something else, Caesar refused to let it limit him. He conquered Gaul, crossed the Rubicon, and became dictator of Rome—all while managing a condition that would periodically strike him down without warning.
One persistent myth: Alexander the Great is often listed alongside Caesar as another famous epileptic, but historians have found zero evidence for this claim. None of Alexander's documented illnesses involved seizures. The association appears to be a modern mistake that won't die.