Julius Caesar: Conqueror, Dictator, Legend
Gaius Julius Caesar (100-44 BCE) is one of history's most consequential figures. He conquered Gaul, crossed the Rubicon, and ended the Roman Republic.
Early Life
- Born into an old patrician family of modest means
- Related to Marius, leader of the populist faction
- Survived Sulla's proscriptions (barely)
- Spent youth in debt, building political connections
The Conquest of Gaul
As governor of Gaul (58-50 BCE), Caesar conquered modern France, Belgium, and parts of Germany and Britain.
- Defeated numerous Gallic tribes
- Invaded Britain twice
- Built bridges across the Rhine
- Wrote detailed accounts (for propaganda and history)
Cost: Perhaps 1 million Gauls killed, another million enslaved.
The Rubicon
In 49 BCE, the Senate ordered Caesar to disband his army. Instead, he crossed the Rubicon River into Italy — an act of war.
> "Alea iacta est" — The die is cast.
Civil war followed. Caesar defeated Pompey and his allies across the Mediterranean.
Dictator of Rome
- Reformed the calendar (the Julian calendar)
- Extended citizenship
- Launched building projects
- Planned eastern campaigns
He was popular with common people but resented by aristocrats.
The Ides of March
On March 15, 44 BCE, a group of senators stabbed Caesar 23 times in the Theatre of Pompey.
The conspirators claimed to restore the Republic. Instead, they triggered another civil war, which ended with Caesar's adopted heir Octavian becoming Emperor Augustus.
Legacy
Caesar's name became synonymous with power: Kaiser (German) and Tsar (Russian) derive from "Caesar."
Related Reading
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Explore Caesar's life in Julius Caesar: Conqueror, Dictator, Legend.