Julius Caesar was the 1st-century ruler of the Roman Republic, whose military conquests are still talked about today and continue to affect our lives. Julius Caesar began his military career as a senator in modern-day France and amassed political power through military victories. Caesar’s military prowess aided him in expanding the republic’s territory, causing his popularity to soar among the population. Caesar’s power grew after starting, and winning, a civil war that led to his lifelong dictatorship. After becoming dictator, Caesar’s enemies and allies believed he was growing too powerful, leading to his assassination. Caesar was one of Europe’s most influential rulers because he expanded the republic, starting a civil war, and his assassination …show more content…
Caesar wiped out local tribes and claimed the conquered land for the Roman Republic. He also gave citizenship to conquered people and built roads for transportation. These reforms, along with Caesar’s ambition and humility, led him to become a prominent public figure. Caesar’s early military victories in Gaul increased his popularity within the republic and led to him gaining even more power within the senate. Julius Caesar took control of Rome after winning a war against its ruler Pompey. After Caesar’s military success in Gaul, he was told to return to Rome as a private citizen, which meant that he was to return without his army. Instead of willingly surrendering and accepting imprisonment and defeat, he brought his army to the Roman capital and declared war against Pompey. Caesar showed he would not back down and surrender, “in 49 B.C.Caesar brazenly led a legion across the Rubicon River, which divided Gaul and Rome, sparking a civil war” (Klein). Caesar showed that he was stubborn in defeat and continued to fight. The term “crossing the Rubicon” is still used today and means crossing a point of no