# Julius Caesar ## Overview Gaius Julius Caesar (100–44 BCE) was a Roman general, statesman, and dictator whose conquest of Gaul and crossing of the Rubicon precipitated the end of the Roman Republic. @t[100 BCE..44 BCE] ## Key Facts - Born: 12 or 13 July 100 BCE, Rome @t[=100 BCE] - Died: 15 March 44 BCE, Rome (assassinated) @t[=44 BCE] - Offices: Aedile (65 BCE), Pontifex Maximus (63 BCE), Praetor (62 BCE), Consul (59 BCE), Dictator perpetuo (44 BCE) @t[=59 BCE] - Military: Conquered Gaul (58–50 BCE) @t[58 BCE..50 BCE] ## Early Career - Aedile (65 BCE): Organized public games @t[=65 BCE] [^3] - Pontifex Maximus (63 BCE): Elected chief priest of the College of Pontiffs; gained a house in the Roman Forum @t[=63 BCE] [^3] - Praetor (62 BCE) @t[=62 BCE] [^3] - Governor of Hispania Ulterior (61–60 BCE) @t[61 BCE..60 BCE] [^2] ## Major Events - First Triumvirate: Alliance with Pompey and Crassus (60 BCE) @t[=60 BCE] [^2] - Gallic Wars (58–50 BCE): Conquered Gaul, invaded Britain twice, bridged the Rhine @t[58 BCE..50 BCE] [^1] - Crossing the Rubicon (49 BCE): Triggered civil war against Pompey @t[=49 BCE] [^2] - Battle of Pharsalus (48 BCE): Defeated Pompey in Greece @t[=48 BCE] [^2] - Battle of Thapsus (46 BCE): Defeated Pompeian forces in North Africa @t[=46 BCE] [^2] - Battle of Munda (45 BCE): Final defeat of Pompeian resistance in Spain @t[=45 BCE] [^2] - Appointed dictator perpetuo (February 44 BCE) @t[=44 BCE] [^2] - Assassinated on the Ides of March (15 March 44 BCE) by Brutus, Cassius, and other senators @t[=44 BCE] [^2] ## Legacy - Julian calendar reform (46 BCE): Replaced the Roman lunar calendar with a 365-day solar calendar @t[=46 BCE] [^3] - Refounded Carthage as a Roman colony (46 BCE) @t[=46 BCE] [^2] - Granted citizenship to many provincials, including Gauls and Spaniards @t[49 BCE..44 BCE] [^2] - Deified by the Roman Senate (42 BCE) @t[=42 BCE] [^3] - His adopted heir Octavian became Augustus, first Roman emperor (27 BCE) @t[=27 BCE] [^2] - Month of July renamed Iulius in his honor (44 BCE) @t[=44 BCE] [^3] - Had a son, Caesarion, with Cleopatra VII of Egypt @t[47 BCE..30 BCE] [^2] --- [^1]: Caesar, *Commentarii de Bello Gallico* [^2]: Goldsworthy, A. *Caesar: Life of a Colossus* (Yale, 2006) [^3]: Suetonius, *De Vita Caesarum: Divus Iulius* (~121 CE) --- ## Review Queue - [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 8: "Born: 12 or 13 July 100 BCE, Rome @t[=100 BCE]" - what is the source? > - [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 9: "Died: 15 March 44 BCE, Rome (assassinated) @t[=44 BCE]" - what is the source? > - [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 10: "Offices: Aedile (65 BCE), Pontifex Maximus (63 BCE), Praetor (62 BCE), Consul..." - what is the source? > - [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 11: "Military: Conquered Gaul (58–50 BCE) @t[58 BCE..50 BCE]" - what is the source? >