Julius Caesar

Conquered Gaul and won the civil war, hastening Rome's transformation from republic to empire.

Life

Rose through the Populares

Caesar came from the Julian clan, whose fortunes were middling in his early years; he entered politics through marriage alliances, heavy borrowing and a populist stance. In the late Republic, expansion had widened the gap between rich and poor and armies were increasingly becoming private forces; the Senate and the populares were locked in long-running conflict, and seizing power through military glory and patronage networks had become the norm.

Conquered Gaul

In 60 BCE he formed an alliance with Pompey and Crassus, became consul the next year, and then served as governor of Gaul. Over eight years he conquered all of Gaul and twice crossed the sea into Britain, writing the Commentaries on the Gallic War. In 49 BCE he led his army across the Rubicon into civil war with Pompey, and over four years he campaigned to victory in Greece, Egypt and North Africa.

Dictatorship and assassination

Once in power he reformed the calendar, extended citizenship and settled veterans and the poor, and was named dictator for life. On the Ides of March, 44 BCE, he was assassinated in the Senate. His conquest led to the long Romanization of Gaul at the cost of enormous losses among its people; his death also hastened the transformation of the Republic into an empire.

Legacy

Caesar was the pivotal figure in the Roman Republic's transition to empire; his military talent and his writing are equally admired, and the Commentaries on the Gallic War remains a classic Latin text today. The Julian calendar he introduced, as revised under Gregory, is still in use, and the month of July is named after him; the name "Caesar" later became the source of the German title "Kaiser" and the Russian title "Tsar." Supporters see him as a reformer, while opponents argue that he trampled the institutions of the Republic and launched a civil war out of personal ambition.

Major works & achievements

• Conquered all of Gaul and twice crossed the sea into Britain
• Commentaries on the Gallic War; The Civil War
• Crossed the Rubicon and defeated Pompey in the civil war
• Introduced the Julian calendar, the basis of today's calendar

Did you know? According to Plutarch, as a young man he was kidnapped by pirates; after his release he returned with a fleet, captured the pirates and had them executed.

Key dates

• 63 BCEElected Pontifex Maximus
• 60 BCEForms an alliance with Pompey and Crassus
• 59 BCEBecomes consul
• 58 BCEBegins the conquest of Gaul
• 52 BCESubdues Gaul at the Battle of Alesia
• 49 BCECrossed the Rubicon; civil war broke out
• 48 BCEDefeats Pompey at the Battle of Pharsalus
• 46 BCEBecame dictator and reformed the calendar
• 44 BCEAssassinated in the Senate