Julius Caesar

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This article is about the Roman dictator. For other uses, see Julius Caesar (disambiguation).

"Caesar" redirects here. For other uses, see Caesar (disambiguation).

Gaius Julius Caesar (Latin: CAIVS IVLIVS CAESAR, pronounced [ˈɡaː.i.ʊs ˈjuː.li.ʊs ˈkae̯.sar],^[b] 13 July 100 BC^[1] – 15 March 44 BC),^[2] usually called Julius Caesar, was aRoman politician and 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 is also known as a notable author of Latin prose.

Julius Caesar
The Tusculum portrait, perhaps the only surviving sculpture of Caesar made during his lifetime. Archaeological Museum, Turin, Italy
Dictator of the Roman Republic
In office October 49 BC – 15 March 44 BC[a]
Consul of the Roman Republic
In office 1 January 44 BC – 15 March 44 BC Serving with Mark Antony
Preceded by	C. Caninius Rebilus (Suffect) and Gaius Trebonius (Suffect)
Succeeded by	P. Cornelius Dolabella(Suffect) and Mark Antony
In office 1 January 46 BC – September 45 BC Serving with M. Aemilius Lepidus (46 BC)
Preceded by	Q. Fufius Calenus and Publius Vatinius
Succeeded by	Q. Fabius Maximus (Suffect) and Gaius Trebonius (Suffect)
In office 1 January 48 BC – 1 January 47 BC Serving with P. Servilius Vatia Isauricus
Preceded by	C. Claudius Marcellus Maior and L. Cornelius Lentulus Crus
Succeeded by	Q. Fufius Calenus and Publius Vatinius
In office 1 January 59 BC – 1 January 58 BC Serving with Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus
Preceded by	Q. Caecilius Metellus Celer and Lucius Afranius
Succeeded by	L. Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus and Aulus Gabinius
Personal details
Born	Gaius Julius Caesar 13 July 100 BC Rome
Died	15 March 44 BC (aged 55) Rome
Cause of death	Assassination
Resting place	Temple of Caesar, Rome
Political party	Populares
Spouse(s)	Cornelia (84~69 BC; her death) Pompeia (67~61 BC; divorced) Calpurnia (59~44 BC; his death)
Children	Julia c. 76–54 BC Caesarion 47–30 BC Augustus (adoptive) 63 BC–14 AD
Parents	Gaius Julius Caesar andAurelia Cotta

In 60 BC, Caesar, Crassus and Pompeyformed a political alliance that dominatedRoman 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's victories in the Gallic Wars, completed by 51 BC, extended Rome's territory to theEnglish Channel and the Rhine. Caesar became the first Roman general to cross both the Channel and the Rhine, when he built abridge across the Rhine and crossed the Channel to invade Britain.

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 Gallic Wars concluded, the Senate ordered Caesar to step down from his military command and return to Rome. Caesar refused the order and instead marked his defiance in 49 BC bycrossing the Rubicon with the 13th Legion, leaving his province and illegally enteringRoman Italy under arms.^[3] Civil war resultedand Caesar's victory in the war put him in an unrivalled position of power and influence.

After assuming control of government, Caesar began a programme of social and governmental reforms, including the creation of the Julian calendar. He centralised the bureaucracy of the Republic and was eventually proclaimed "dictator in perpetuity", giving him additional authority. However, the underlying political conflicts had not been resolved and on the Ides of March (15 March) 44 BC Caesar was assassinated by a group of rebellious senators led by Gaius Cassius Longinus, Marcus Junius Brutus and Decimus Junius Brutus.^[4][5] A new series of civil warsbroke out and the constitutional government of the Republic was never fully restored. Caesar's adopted heir Octavian, later known as Augustus, rose to sole power after defeating his opponents in the civil war. Octavian set about solidifying his power and the era of the Roman Empire began.

Much of Caesar's life is known from his own accounts of his military campaigns and from other contemporary sources, mainly the letters and speeches of Cicero and the historical writings of Sallust. The later biographies of Caesar by Suetonius andPlutarch are also major sources. Caesar is considered by many historians to be one of the greatest military commanders in history.