After the successful conclusion of the Gallic War in 49 B.C., Caesar was ready to return to Rome as a victorious general. The Senate, however, firt ordered him to give up command of his army. Realizing that he had many enemies back hom, and that without an army he was defenseless, Caesar defied the Senate, crossed the Rubicon, a small stream separating his province from Italy, and began his march to Rome. The famous words he uttered at the time, "Alea iacta est" (The die is cast), signified that he had made his decision and that there was no turning back.

VENI, VIDI, VICI

On his way home from the East in 47 B.C., Caesar attacked Pharnaces, King of Pontus, and defeated him in the Battle of Zela with such ease that he informed the Roman Senate of his victory with the words, "Veni vidi vici" (I came i saw i conquered).

ET TU, BRUTE!

On the Ides of March (March 15), 44 B.C., Caesar was stabbed to death by a group of conspirators . Among them was Marcus Brutus, who had lived with him on terms of the most intimate friendship When Caesar saw his close friend with dagger in hand, he is said to have exclaimed, "Et tu Brute!" (Even you Brutus!)

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Physically, Caesar was tall and of commanding presence. He was bald in his later years and was so sensitive to this condition tht he usually wore a laurel crown to conceal his baldness. He displayed astonishing powers of endurance and, by example, inspired his men to feats of heroism. He was a strict, though fair, disciplinarian and won the loyalty of his soldiers.

Brilliant in mind, swift in action, cool and resourceful in times of crisis - these were some of the qualities that made Caesar invincible. To balance the picture, he was considered overambitious, cruel in war, and unscrupulous in politics.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND INFLUENCE

Caesar is considered by many the greatest Roman of them all, by some "the most complete man." History ranks him as one of the most outstanding men because of the far - reaching influence of his achievements. These achievements were:

MILITARY AFFAIRS:

Caesar was a military genius, on apar with Alexander the Great, Scipio, Hannibal, and Napolean. A master strategis, he was expert at moving large forces rapidly. He believed in taking the offensice and in using the surprise attack. He extended the Roman Empire by his conquest of Gaul, invasions of Britain and Germany, and successes in the East. His Military achievements freed Rome from the fear of aggression for centuries.

STATESMANSHIP

As a statesman Caesar's name looms large in the history of Rome. After peace had been established, Caesar set himself the task of completely reorganizing the Roman state and its administration. He aimed at an efficient and stabilized ventral government, ruling over Italy and the provinces. He impproved the legal system and began codification of the laws. He revised the method of taxation, established a program of public works, intiated a building campaign to beautify Rome, and planned an extensive highway system. Unfortunately, death prevented the completion of all these projects.

As pontifex maximus Caesar undertook the long overdue reform of the calendar, introducing a solar year of 365 days (the Julian calander). He was susequently honored when the month of his birth, Quincitilis, was changed to July, after Julius.(Later the Emperor Augustus was given a similar honor when the month Sextilis, was changed to August.) The name Caesar also survies in the titles of recent monarchs, Kaiser in Germany and Czar in Russia.