Gaius Julius Caesar was born 12 July 100 BCE (though some cite 102 as his birth year). His father, also Gaius Julius Caesar, was a Praetor who governed the province of Asia and his mother, Aurelia Cotta, was of noble birth. Both held to the Populare ideology of Rome which favored democratization of government and more rights for the lower class as opposed to the Optimate factions' claim of the superiority of the nobility and traditional Roman values which favored the upper classes. It should be understood that the Optimate and the Populare were not political parties in conflict with each other but, rather, political ideologies which many people shifted toward and from, regardless of class in society. The concept of appealing to the people for support, rather than seeking approval from the Roman Senate or the other Patricians, would work well for Caesar later in life.
More about: Julius CaesarDefinition
Timeline
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12 Jul 100 BCE - 15 Mar 44 BCELife of Gaius Julius Caesar, founder of the Roman Empire.
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c. 69 BCE - 12 Aug 30 BCELife of Cleopatra VII of Egypt.
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65 BCEJulius Caesar becomes aedile curule in Rome.
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60 BCE - 53 BCEFirst Triumvirate' between Caesar, Pompey and Crassus.
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58 BCE - 51 BCEJulius Caesar's conquest of Gaul.
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58 BCECaesar attacks the Helvetii while on migration and defeats them.
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58 BCEJulius Caesar invades Gaul. Roman influence on the European tribes begins in earnest.
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57 BCEA Roman army under Caesar narrowly defeats an army of Nervii, Atrebates, and Viromandui.
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55 BCE - 54 BCEJulius Caesar's expeditions in Britain.
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55 BCECaesar attempts to invade Britain.
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54 BCECaesar successfully invades Britain but withdraws to Gaul.
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54 BCE - 29 BCEForum of Caesar constructed in Rome by Julius Caesar as another area to conduct judicial business. It is the best surviving of his monuments.
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54 BCE - 53 BCEAmbiorix of the Eburones tribe destroys around 9,000 Roman soldiers at Atuatuca.
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53 BCEJulius Caesar holds council of Gallic tribes in Lutetia.
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52 BCEJulius Caesar is defeated at Gergovia by Vercingetorix.
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52 BCEAfter becoming trapped and besieged at Alesia, Vercingetorix surrenders to Caesar.
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51 BCECaesar's siege and capture of Uxellodunum ends the Gallic War.
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49 BCEJulius Caesar captures Brundisium in southern Italy.
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49 BCEJulius Caesar besieges Massilia.
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49 BCECaesar crosses the Rubicon. Civil war between Caesar and Pompey begins.
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10 Jan 49 BCEJulius Caesar crosses the Rubicon River with his 13th legion on the night of 10 January into the 11th, initiating the civil war that ended the Roman Republic.
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48 BCECaesar defeats Pompey (Battle of Pharsalus); Pompey flees to Egypt and is killed by courtiers of Ptolemy XIII.
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48 BCECaesar arrives in Egypt and orders Ptolemy XIII and Cleopatra VII to disband their armies, but instead, war breaks out.
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23 Jun 47 BCEBirth of Cleopatra's son, named Caesarion; Caesar is said to be the father.
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c. 46 BCEJulius Caesar mints the largest quantity of gold coins ever seen in Rome.
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46 BCEJulius Caesar celebrates a quadruple triumph in Rome.
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4 Jan 46 BCEThe Battle of Ruspina between Julius Caesar and Titus Labienus during Caesar's Civil War in North Africa. Caesar adapted to the attack by Labienus' Numidian cavalry and light infantry by enlisting his sailors as infantry and ordering a "fighting retreat" which saved his army and allowed for his later decisive victory at the Battle of Thapsus.
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1 Jan 45 BCEThe Julian calendar takes effect. Commissioned by Julius Caesar to stabilize the older calendar, the Julian calendar established a 365-day year and moved New Year's Day from 1 March to 1 January.
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44 BCEJulius Caesar founds the Roman colony of Corinth.
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15 Mar 44 BCEJulius Caesar is murdered.
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15 Mar 44 BCEJulius Caesar is assassinated on the Ides of March by senators of Rome who feared he was becoming too powerful.
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29 BCEThe Temple of Divus Julius, dedicated to the deified Julius Caesar, is added to Rome's Forum Romanum.
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47 CE - 50 CELondinium (London) founded, roads constructed.
