Julius Caesar

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born

Rome, Italy

gender

male

genre

History, Politics

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Gaius Julius Caesar (pronounced [ˈɡaː.i.us ˈjuːli.us ˈkaɪsar] in Classical Latin; conventionally /ˈɡaɪ.əs ˈdʒuːli.əs ˈsiːzər/ in English), (13 July 102-100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman military and political leader. He played a critical role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire.

As a politician, Caesar made use of popularist tactics. During the late 60s and into the 50s BC, he formed political alliances that led to the so-called "First Triumvirate," an extra-legal arrangement with Marcus Licinius Crassus and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus ("Pompey the Great") that was to dominate Roman politics for several years. Their factional attempts to amass power for themselves were opposed within the Roman Senate by the optim...more Gaius Julius Caesar (pronounced [ˈɡaː.i.us ˈjuːli.us ˈkaɪsar] in Classical Latin; conventionally /ˈɡaɪ.əs ˈdʒuːli.əs ˈsiːzər/ in English), (13 July 102-100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman military and political leader. He played a critical role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire.

As a politician, Caesar made use of popularist tactics. During the late 60s and into the 50s BC, he formed political alliances that led to the so-called "First Triumvirate," an extra-legal arrangement with Marcus Licinius Crassus and Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus ("Pompey the Great") that was to dominate Roman politics for several years. Their factional attempts to amass power for themselves were opposed within the Roman Senate by the optimates, among them Marcus Porcius Cato and Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus, with the sometime support of Marcus Tullius Cicero. Caesar's conquest of Gaul extended the Roman world to the North Sea, and in 55 BC he also conducted the first Roman invasion of Britain. These achievements granted him unmatched military power and threatened to eclipse Pompey's, while the death of Crassus contributed to increasing political tensions between the two triumviral survivors. Political realignments in Rome finally led to a stand-off between Caesar and Pompey, the latter having taken up the cause of the Senate. With the order that sent his legions across the Rubicon, Caesar began a civil war in 49 BC from which he emerged as the unrivaled leader of the Roman world.

After assuming control of government, he began extensive reforms of Roman society and government. He centralised the bureaucracy of the Republic and was eventually proclaimed "dictator in perpetuity" (dictator perpetuo). A group of senators, led by Marcus Junius Brutus, assassinated the dictator on the Ides of March (15 March) 44 BC, hoping to restore the normal running of the Republic. However, the result was another Roman civil war, which ultimately led to the establishment of a permanent autocracy by Caesar's adopted heir, Gaius Octavianus. In 42 BC, two years after his assassination, the Senate officially sanctified Caesar as one of the Roman deities.

Much of Caesar's life is known from his own Commentaries (Commentarii) on his military campaigns, and other contemporary sources such as the letters and speeches of his political rival Cicero, the historical writings of Sallust, and the poetry of Catullus. Many more details of his life are recorded by later historians, such as Appian, Suetonius, Plutarch, Cassius Dio and Strabo.(less)

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Julius Caesar's Books

Average rating: 3.89 · 4,818 ratings · 225 reviews · 63 distinct works · Similar authors

	The Conquest of Gaul by Julius Caesar, S.A. Handford (Translator), Jane F. Gardner (Editor, Introduction) 3.87 of 5 stars 3.87 avg rating — 2,596 ratings — published -50 — 131 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Civil War by Julius Caesar, Jane F. Gardner (Translator), Jane P. Gardner (Introduction) 3.91 of 5 stars 3.91 avg rating — 1,790 ratings — published -47 — 27 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Caesar's Commentaries: On the Gallic War and On the Civil War by Julius Caesar, James H. Ford (Editor), W.A. MacDevitt (Translator) 4.13 of 5 stars 4.13 avg rating — 170 ratings — published 1967 — 36 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Gallic War and Other Writings by Julius Caesar, Moses Hadas 3.82 of 5 stars 3.82 avg rating — 96 ratings — published -40 — 12 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Caesar: de Bello Gallico I 3.63 of 5 stars 3.63 avg rating — 82 ratings — published 1991	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	De Bello Gallico, II by Julius Caesar, E.C. Kennedy (Editor, Notes) 4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 avg rating — 19 ratings — published 2006	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Civil War: With the Anonymous Alexandrian, African and Spanish Wars by Julius Caesar, J.M. Carter (Translator) 4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 avg rating — 27 ratings — published 1922 — 8 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Gai Ivli Caesaris De bello Gallico: Caesar's Gallic war, four books ... 4.09 of 5 stars 4.09 avg rating — 11 ratings — published 2002 — 8 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Belli Civilis, Book 3 (1898) by Julius Caesar, Alfred Holder (Editor) 4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2008 — 2 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Selections from Caesar. the Gallic War, by G.L. Bennett 5.0 of 5 stars 5.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2009 — 3 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Quotes by Julius Caesar

“I came, I saw, I conquered. [Latin: Veni, vidi, vici.]”
― Julius Caesar

tags: conqueror, imperialism, rome, war

274 people liked it

“In the end, it is impossible not to become what others believe you are.”
― Julius Caesar

45 people liked it

“No one is so brave that he is not disturbed by something unexpected.”
― Julius Caesar

44 people liked it

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