Julius Caesar was a prominent Roman politician and general who lived from 100 BC to 44 BC. He progressively rose through the Roman political system, becoming consul and then governor of Gaul, adding modern France and Belgium to Roman territory. However, the Senate grew worried about Caesar's popularity and power, and ordered him to disband his army, which he refused. This led to civil war, with Caesar emerging victorious. He became dictator for life but was assassinated in 44 BC by a group of senators who feared he wanted to be king. His conquests helped transform Rome from a republic to an empire under his grandnephew Augustus.

1. Julius Caesar
100 BC – 44 BC
Politician, general, dictator

2. Julius Caesar

3. Julius Caesar was born in Rome in July 100 BC.
He progressed within the Roman political system, becoming
successively:
 69 BC: Quaestor
 65 BC: Aedile
 62 BC: Praetor
 60 BC: governor of
the Roman province
of Hispania.

4. 59 BC: back in Rome, Caesar
made a pact with Pompey and
Crassus, who helped him to get
elected as consul. As a consul
he became very popular (e.g.:
he granted land to veteran
soldiers).
58 - 49 BC: he was governor of
Roman province of Gaul, and
he added modern France and
Belgium to the Roman empire.

5. 49 BC: After his victory in Gaul,
Caesar was so popular that the
Senate began to worry that he might
take the power by force and rule as a
king!! Hence, the Senate ordered
Caesar to disband his army and
return to Rome because his term as
governor had finished.
However, Caesar ignored the
“Alea iacta est” = “la
Senate’s order and crossed the
suerte está echada”.
Rubicon River with his army, which
It is used to
was illegal according to the laws of
designate a situation
the Twelve Tables. This marked the
with no return.
beginning of a civil war.

6. Julius Caesar
crossing the
Rubicon River

7. 49 BC: Civil War between:
Julius Caesar
&
his supporters
(the “Populares”)
Pompey was defeated and
Julius Caesar became
master of Rome and made
himself consul and dictator
for life (“Dictator perpetuo”).
Pompey
&
his supporters
(the “Optimates”)

8. 44 BC: a group of senators (led by Brutus & Cassius)
murdered Caesar on March 15th. This date is known as the
“Ides of March” (Los Idus de Marzo).
Julius Caesar murdered upon entering the Senate (44 B.C.)

10. Roman Republic in 40 B.C. after Julius Caesar’s conquests

11. 44 – 27 BC: after Caesar’s death,
civil war begins again in Rome.
After the death of Marc Anthony &
Cleopatra, Octavian Augustus
(grandnephew of Julius Caesar)
becomes the first Emperor of
Rome in 27 BC. The Republic had
finished.