Julius Caesar

Gaius Julius Caesar[a] (/ˈsiːzər/ SEE-zər, Latin: [ˈɡaːɪ.ʊs ˈjuːlɪ.ʊs

Julius Caesar
ˈkae̯ sar]; 12 or 13 July 100 BC[b] – 15 March 44 BC),[c] known by his
nomen and cognomen Julius Caesar, was a populist Roman dictator,
politician, and military general who played a critical role in the events
that led to the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the
Roman Empire. He was also a historian and wrote Latin prose.

In 60 BC, Caesar, Crassus and Pompey formed the First Triumvirate, a

political alliance that dominated Roman politics for several years.
Their attempts to amass power as Populares were opposed by the
Optimates within the Roman Senate, among them Cato the Younger
with the frequent support of Cicero. Caesar rose to become one of the
most powerful politicians in the Roman Republic through a number of
his accomplishments, notably his victories in the Gallic Wars,
completed by 51 BC. During this time, Caesar became the first Roman
general to cross both the English Channel and the Rhine River, when
he built a bridge across the Rhine and crossed the Channel to invade
Britain. Caesar's wars extended Rome's territory to Britain and past
Gaul. These achievements granted him unmatched military power and
threatened to eclipse the standing of Pompey, who had realigned
himself with the Senate after the death of Crassus in 53 BC. With the
The Tusculum portrait, possibly the only
Gallic Wars concluded, the Senate ordered Caesar to step down from
surviving sculpture of Caesar made during
his military command and return to Rome. Leaving his command in his lifetime. Archaeological Museum, Turin,
Gaul meant losing his immunity from being charged as a criminal for Italy
waging unsanctioned wars. As a result, Caesar found himself with no Dictator of the Roman Republic
other options but to cross the Rubicon with the 13th Legion in 49 BC, In office
leaving his province and illegally entering Roman Italy under arms.[5] 29 October 49 BC – 15 March 44 BC
This began Caesar's civil war, and his victory in the war put him in an
Lieutenant Marcus Antonius
unrivalled position of power and influence.
Marcus Aemilius Lepidus
After assuming control of government, Caesar began a program of Gnaeus Domitius Calvinus
social and governmental reforms, including the creation of the Julian
Preceded by Sulla
calendar. He gave citizenship to many residents of far regions of the
(82/81–81 BC; as
Roman Empire. He initiated land reform and support for veterans. He
previous Dictator)
centralized the bureaucracy of the Republic and was eventually
proclaimed "dictator for life" (Latin: "dictator perpetuo"), giving him Succeeded by Augustus
additional authority. His populist and authoritarian reforms angered (27 BC – AD 14; as
the elites, who began to conspire against him. On the Ides of March (15 Roman emperor)
March), 44 BC, Caesar was assassinated by a group of rebellious Consul of the Roman Republic
senators led by Gaius Cassius Longinus, Marcus Junius Brutus and In office
Decimus Junius Brutus, who stabbed him to death.[6][7] A new series 1 January 44 BC – 15 March 44 BC
of civil wars broke out and the constitutional government of the Serving with Mark Antony