Julius Caesar was born in Rome in 100 BC and died in 44 BC. He was a military and political leader whose dictatorship ended the Roman Republic. After a difficult childhood, Caesar achieved great political success by reconciling two rival leaders. He then started a civil war that lasted three years and made him victorious over Rome and Italy. Caesar was later assassinated in a conspiracy led by Cassius and Brutus before he could complete his reforms, though he had already been very successful in his political career.