Gaius Julius Caesar (100 B.C.- 44 B.C.)
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar or Julius Caesar was a Roman general, statesman and Consul. In 60 BC, Caesar, Crassus and Pompey formed a political alliance they used populist tactics to gain power which the conservatives in the senate frequently opposed. In 51 BC after Caesar conquest Gaul he was at the height of his military power and it threatened to overshadow Pompey who had sided with the Senate after the death of Crassus in 53 BC. After the end of the Gallic wars Caesar was ordered by the senate to return home, to which Caesar refused and left with the 13th legion and entered Rome under arms starting a Civil War. After the war Caesar emerged as the unrivalled leader of Rome, after assuming control Caesar made many social and political reforms. He centralized the bureaucracy of the Republic and finally was announced dictator of Rome. Julius Caesar remained in power until his assassination in 44 BC at the age of 55 by a group of senators because of underlying political issues. Caesar’s assassination resulted in another Civil War afrter which the constitutional government was never resumed. When the war ended Octavian (later known as Agustus Caesar) gained control and this was the start of the Roman Empire.