Octavian set about solidifying his power, and the era of the Roman Empire began. Caesar's adopted heir Octavian, later known as Augustus, rose to sole power after defeating his opponents in the civil war.
#QUOTES GAIUS JULIUS CAESAR SERIES#
A new series of civil wars broke out and the constitutional government of the Republic was never fully restored. On the Ides of March, 44 BC, Caesar was assassinated by a group of rebellious senators led by Gaius Cassius Longinus, Marcus Junius Brutus and Decimus Junius Brutus, who stabbed him to death. His populist and authoritarian reforms angered the elites, who began to conspire against him. He centralized the bureaucracy of the Republic and was eventually proclaimed "dictator for life", giving him additional authority. He initiated land reform and support for veterans. He gave citizenship to many residents of far regions of the Roman Republic. This began Caesar's civil war, and his victory in the war by 45 BC put him in an unrivaled position of power and influence.Īfter assuming control of government, Caesar began a program of social and governmental reforms, including the creation of the Julian calendar. As a result, Caesar found himself with no other options but to cross the Rubicon with the 13th Legion in 49 BC, leaving his province and illegally entering Roman Italy under arms. Leaving his command in Gaul meant losing his immunity from being charged as a criminal for waging unsanctioned wars. With the Gallic Wars concluded, the Senate ordered Caesar to step down from his military command and return to Rome. These achievements granted him unmatched military power and threatened to eclipse the standing of Pompey, who had realigned himself with the Senate after the death of Crassus in 53 BC. Caesar's wars extended Rome's territory to Britain and past Gaul. During this time, Caesar became the first Roman general to cross both the English Channel and the Rhine River, when he built a bridge across the Rhine and crossed the Channel to invade Britain. Caesar rose to become one of the most powerful politicians in the Roman Republic through a number of his accomplishments, notably his victories in the Gallic Wars, completed by 51 BC. Their attempts to amass power as Populares were opposed by the Optimates within the Roman Senate, among them Cato the Younger with the frequent support of Cicero. In 60 BC, Caesar, Crassus and Pompey formed the First Triumvirate, a political alliance that dominated Roman politics for several years. He was also a historian and wrote Latin prose. Gaius Julius Caesar, better known by his nomen gentilicium and cognomen Julius Caesar, was a Roman dictator, politician, and military general who played a critical role in the events that led to the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire.