Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar (c. 100-44 BCE) was a Roman general and statesman whose rise to power and assassination marked the transition of Rome from republic to empire.
One unauthorized river crossing turned a celebrated general into a rebel, and set in motion the chain of events that would end the Roman Republic for good.
A Rising Political and Military Star
Caesar rose through Roman politics through a combination of political alliances, oratory skill, and military achievement, forming an informal power-sharing arrangement known as the First Triumvirate with fellow statesmen Pompey and Crassus in 60 BCE.
The Conquest of Gaul
Between 58 and 50 BCE, Caesar led Roman forces in the conquest of Gaul, roughly modern-day France and Belgium, in a series of campaigns that greatly expanded Roman territory and immensely increased his personal wealth, military reputation, and political power back in Rome.
Crossing the Rubicon
In 49 BCE, ordered by the Senate to disband his army, Caesar instead defied Roman law by leading his legions across the Rubicon River into Italy — an irreversible act of rebellion that ignited a civil war. His decisive phrase upon crossing, "alea iacta est" ("the die is cast"), has become a lasting symbol of point-of-no-return decisions.
Dictator of Rome
After defeating his rivals, Caesar was declared dictator perpetuo ("dictator in perpetuity") in 44 BCE, consolidating unprecedented personal power that alarmed many members of the Roman Senate who feared the end of republican governance.
Assassination and Aftermath
Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March (March 15), 44 BCE, stabbed to death by a group of senators including Brutus and Cassius who believed they were saving the Republic. His death instead triggered another round of civil wars that ultimately led to the rise of the Roman Empire under his adopted heir, Augustus.
