Julius Caesar
A military genius and political gambler who crossed the Rubicon, shattered the Roman Republic, and paved the way for emperors.
Born -100 (age 2126)·Roman general and dictator (100–44 BC)·Birthday: July 12
Biography
Gaius Julius Caesar was born into a patrician family that had lost much of its influence, a fact that fueled his relentless ambition. His early career was a masterclass in political maneuvering and military brilliance, from his conquest of Gaul—chronicled in his own crisp, third-person prose—to his fateful decision to lead his legion across the Rubicon River into Italy, sparking civil war. After defeating his rival Pompey, he returned to Rome not as a restorer of the old order but as its undertaker, accumulating unprecedented powers and the title of dictator for life. His sweeping reforms of the calendar and administration were overshadowed by the resentment his autocracy bred among the senatorial elite. On the Ides of March in 44 BC, a conspiracy of those he considered allies ended his life, a murder that ironically accelerated the Republic's final collapse and ushered in the imperial rule of his adopted heir, Augustus.
#1 When Julius Was Born
The biggest hits of -100
Julius's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
-100Born
-95Started school
-87Became a teenager
-84Could drive
-82Could vote
-79Turned 21
-70Turned 30
-60Turned 40
-50Turned 50
-40Turned 60
-30Turned 70
-20Turned 80
2026Age 2126 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Led the conquest of Gaul, expanding Roman territory and wealth dramatically.
- Authored 'Commentarii de Bello Gallico,' a seminal work of Latin literature and propaganda.
- Defeated Pompey in a civil war, becoming the undisputed master of the Roman world.
- Instituted the Julian calendar, a timekeeping system that formed the basis of the modern calendar.
- His assassination directly triggered the series of wars that ended the Roman Republic.
Did You Know?
He was once kidnapped by pirates and, after his ransom was paid, returned to capture and crucify them.
The month of July is named in his honor.
He suffered from epilepsy, which Romans referred to as 'the falling sickness.'
His last words to his assassin Brutus were reportedly the Greek phrase 'Kai su, teknon?' (You too, child?).
“Veni, vidi, vici.”
