Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman who greatly expanded the Roman Republic and was declared dictator for life in 45 BC. However, his apparent ambition for power and arrogance alienated political peers, and he was assassinated in 44 BC on the Ides of March by a group of conspirators led by Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius. After his death, Rome was plunged into civil war as a power struggle ensued between Caesar's adopted heir Octavian and leaders of the Senate, marking the transition from republic to empire with Octavian emerging as Rome's first emperor, Augustus.
3. Quick Facts
Full Name
Gaius Julius Caesar
Occupation
Dictator, General
Birth date
July 12, 100 BC
Death date
March 15, 44 BC
4. Short Bio
Left Rome for military service in Asia and Cilicia
Began his political career as a prosecuting advocate
Travelled to Rhodes for philosophical studies
Held a number of government positions under Pompey and
was elected consul in 60 BC
In 55 BC he attempted an invasion of Britain
5. After defeating Pompey, Caesar went on to Egypt
Made dictator for life in 45 BC and was called Father of his Country
(Pater Patriae)
The month of Quintilis was re-named in his honour (July)
His apparent arrogance and ambition brought him the suspicion of his
peers, so he made a number of political reforms which served to give
him more power and alienate his fellow senators
Caesar used this power to fill the senate with his own partisans and
tried to transform Italy into a province
Assassinated in the Roman Senate on the Ides of March by a group of
conspirators (including his adopted son, Brutus) who wanted to save
Rome from his alleged monarchical ambitions
6. His famous last words were immortalised by Shakespeare as
“You too, Brutus?”
A power struggle broke out after his death, which led to the
end of the Roman Republic
The middle and lower classes became angry that he had
been killed by a small number of aristocrats so they turned
into a mob at Caesar's funeral and attacked the homes of
Brutus and Cassius
On 1 January 42 BC, Caesar became the first historical
Roman to be deified, being granted the title ‘the divine Julius’
posthumously by the Senate
9. Kidnapped by pirates
Mid-20s, Rome to Rhodes
When his captors named a
ransom price for his release,
Caesar thought the number
was insultingly low and
insisted a greater sum be
demanded
Caesar was freed and had
them executed
10. Had a son with Cleopatra
48 BC
Caesar went to Egypt to
track down one of his rivals,
the Roman general Pompey
He met Cleopatra, she gave
birth to a boy, Ptolemy
Caesar (Caesarion)
11. The father of leap year
Before Caesar, Romans used a
calendar based on the lunar cycle
(355 days)
After consulting with the
astronomer Sosigenes, Caesar
implemented the Julian calendar
Went into effect in 45 BC and was
made up of 365 days in a year
Actual solar year is 365 ¼ days long,
Caesar also added an extra day