Changes

 

'''Gaius Julius Caesar''' lived from 100–44 B. C. He was a [[Roman]] military & political leader and one of  most influential people in [[history]]. A brilliant general, he laid the groundwork for the future [[Roman empire]].  

'''Gaius Julius Caesar''' lived from 100–44 B. C. He was a [[Roman]] military & political leader and one of  most influential people in [[history]]. A brilliant general, he laid the groundwork for the future [[Roman empire]].  

Julius Caesar then made himself the provincial ruler (proconsul) of [[Gaul]] (modern-day [[France]]). He conquered vast amounts of territory for Rome and, while fighting abroad, sent written reports back to Rome of the victories he was winning to sustain his popularity and to ensure that the people did not forget him. Back in Rome, Julius Caesar’s plan was working, and Pompey became increasingly jealous (by this time, Crassus had died in battle). Pompey, with the support of the Senate, objected to Julius Caesar’s actions and ordered him to disband his army and return to Rome. He refused, and in an act of direct defiance to the [[Senate]], led his loyal troops across the Rubicon River to Rome and conquered it in 49 B. C. The expression, “crossing the Rubicon” is used today to describe an act from which there is no turning back. Julius Caesar went on to defeat Pompey at the [[Battle of Pharsalus]] in 48 B.C. This left Julius Caesar firming in control of Rome, and he then took his veteran army on campaigns in [[Egypt]] (where he installed ally [[Cleopatra]] as queen), Asia Minor, [[Africa]] and [[Spain]] before returning to Rome again in 45 B.C. Rome ruled much of the Western civilized world as result of these military campaigns. It is interesting to note that Caesar did not start his string of incredible military victories until he was well into middle age.  The Roman Senate appointed Julius Caesar as dictator for life in 46 B.C.

Julius Caesar then made himself the provincial ruler (proconsul) of [[Gaul]] (modern-day [[France]]). He conquered vast amounts of territory for Rome and, while fighting abroad, sent written reports back to Rome of the victories he was winning to sustain his popularity and to ensure that the people did not forget him. Back in Rome, Julius Caesar’s plan was working, and Pompey became increasingly jealous (by this time, Crassus had died in battle). Pompey, with the support of the Senate, objected to Julius Caesar’s actions and ordered him to disband his army and return to Rome. He refused, and in an act of direct defiance to the [[Senate]], led his loyal troops across the Rubicon River to Rome and conquered it in 49 B. C. The expression, “crossing the Rubicon” is used today to describe an act from which there is no turning back. Julius Caesar went on to defeat Pompey at the [[Battle of Pharsalus]] in 48 B.C. This left Julius Caesar firming in control of Rome, and he then took his veteran army on campaigns in [[Egypt]] (where he installed ally [[Cleopatra]] as queen), Asia Minor, [[Africa]] and [[Spain]] before returning to Rome again in 45 B.C. Rome ruled much of the Western civilized world as result of these military campaigns. It is interesting to note that Caesar did not start his string of incredible military victories until he was well into middle age.  The Roman Senate appointed Julius Caesar as dictator for life in 46 B.C.

 

==Later Career and Death==

==Later Career and Death==

The Roman Senate was less than pleased with Caesar's actions as dictator. In a conspiracy famously recounted in [[Shakespeare]]’s play “Julius Caesar,” [[Cassius]] and [[Brutus]] and up to 60 others agreed to stab and kill Julius Caesar when he entered the Senate on the “Ides of March” (March 15, 44 B.C.). After he died, Rome fell into chaos for 13 years as rivals strived for power. Julius Caesar had named his 18-year-old grandnephew, [[Gaius Octavius]], to be his heir. Gaius Octavius also intended to inherit his adopted father's political power. Others wanted [[Mark Antony]]. Cassius and Brutus also had armies of their own. First a triumvirate of Octavian, Antony and Lepidus defeated the armies of Cassius and Brutus, and that ended the republican rule by the Senate.  Octavius went on in history to become Augustus, the first Roman Emperor.  

The Roman Senate was less than pleased with Caesar's actions as dictator. In a conspiracy famously recounted in [[Shakespeare]]’s play “Julius Caesar,” [[Cassius]] and [[Brutus]] and up to 60 others agreed to stab and kill Julius Caesar when he entered the Senate on the “Ides of March” (March 15, 44 B.C.). After he died, Rome fell into chaos for 13 years as rivals strived for power. Julius Caesar had named his 18-year-old grandnephew, [[Gaius Octavius]], to be his heir. Gaius Octavius also intended to inherit his adopted father's political power. Others wanted [[Mark Antony]]. Cassius and Brutus also had armies of their own. First a triumvirate of Octavian, Antony and Lepidus defeated the armies of Cassius and Brutus, and that ended the republican rule by the Senate.  Octavius went on in history to become Augustus, the first Roman Emperor.