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Crossing the rubiCon
Caesar’s victories in gaul made him very popular with
many romans. however, others feared and distrusted
him. in 49 bce, the senate ordered him to give up his
army. Caesar refused and crossed the rubicon river
to invade italy and begin
the civil war.Julius
in 49 bce, a brilliant military Commander and politician named
Julius Caesar became head of the roman republic. Caesar made himself
popular with people by paying for magnificent public games in rome.
after holding various public offices, including that of consul, he was given
command of an army and extended the boundaries of the roman republic
by conquering gaul (modern France, belgium, and switzerland). he also
invaded britain twice. the senate, a group of elected representatives who
ruled rome, feared he might make himself king, so they ordered Caesar
to surrender his army, but instead he marched toward rome.
Pompey the great, Caesar’s son-in-law, headed the senate’s
troops. in 48 bce, Pompey was murdered,
and in 45 bce Caesar was elected
dictator. but a year later
he was violently
assassinated.Caesar’s death
many politicians in rome
thought that Caesar had too
much power. led by marcus
brutus and gaius Cassius,
a number of Pompey’s
supporters plotted against
Caesar and decided to
kill him. on march 15,
(the ides of march), 44 bce,
the plotters attacked Caesar in
the senate and stabbed him to
death. Civil war raged after his
death; finally, his adopted son
octavian emerged as victor, and
the roman empire was born.laurel
Crown
Victorious
roman military
commanders often
wore laurel wreaths to symbolize
their power. later, emperors would
wear a crown of gold olive leaves
after a great victory.100 bce born in rome.
65 bce elected public
games organizer.
62 bce elected praetor, a
law official.
60 bce Forms First
triumvirate.
59 bce elected consul.
58 bce begins gaul campaign.
55 bce invades britain.
49 bce Fights civil war.
becomes dictator.
48 bce defeats Pompey.
46 bce defeats Pompey’s
supporters.
45 bce made dictator for life.
44 bce assassinated.triumVirate
in 60 bce, Caesar, wanting to be
elected consul, allied his fortunes
with Pompey (above) and Crassus,
another leading politician, to form
a three-man group (a triumvirate)
that was the most powerful political
group in rome.As Caesar wondered
whether to cross the
Rubicon River, legend
has it that a vision of
a larger-than-life man
appeared, playing a
trumpet, luring
him across the
river. Caesar took it
to be a sign from the
gods and gave the order
for his troops to proceed.Caesar
Each army unit,
or legion, carried
its own standard,
shaped like
an eagle.Canada, history of
roman empireFind out more
US_088_Caesar_Julius.indd 88 20/01/16 4:34 pm