Caesar was born into an influential family, and as a patrician he probably received a decent education. His father was a Quaestor (a taxation official) and his mother's family was also politically influential, as a male he was expected to become a politician as well. After his 16th birthday, Caesar's father died, Julius Caesar became the head of his family. He quickly began to build his power and wealth and by the time he was 18 he had married Cornelia Cinna, the daughter of an influential politician. During the reign of Sulla (one of Rome's most influential dictators) Caesar had to flee to the far corners of the Roman territories as he was considered to be an enemy of the state. While he was in exile, he became a soldier and distinguished himself as part of the army on campaign. When Sulla died, Caesar and his family returned to Rome and by 64bce he had been given the governorship of Hispania and had achieved the rank of praetor (magistrate/judge).
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Caesar became Consul in 59bce, as he could only serve for one year he was given the governorship of Gaul in 58bce. At first Roman controlled Gaul was only the region of the Alps in Norther Italy and some parts of Southern France. When he arrived, he took his famous legions North and over the next 7 years they defeated the formidable Gallic tribes. In 50bce, Julius Caesar returned to Rome a hero, having defeated the most powerful Gallic tribe at Alesia. When he returned, he did so with the support of the people (to whom he was very generous) but without the support of the Senate (who feared his popularity with the people). The Senate called upon Caesar's oldest ally Gnaeus Pompey Magnus to defend the Republic against Caesar. To ensure that he made it safely back to Rome, Caesar brought with him his 13th Legion. As he crossed the Rubicon in the north of Italy, he uttered the words "The Die is Cast" showing that he was relying on luck to be successful. Pompey fled Rome from Caesar, and was assassinated by the Pharaoh of Egypt, Ptolemy. Ptolemy had hoped to gain favour with Caesar, but instead it turned Caesar to the other ruler of Egypt Cleopatra.
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In 47bce, Caesar defeated the last of Pompey's supporters, Cato. In 46bce Caesar was given the title of 'Dictator' for 10 years. He then began to campaign against the sons of Pompey and by the end of 45bce, Caesar had defeated them in Hispania and North Africa. on the Calends of February (Late January - Early February) in 44bce he was given the title of 'Dictator in Perpetuity' (Dictator until decided otherwise). On the Ides of March (15th of March) 44bce, Caesar was attending a Senate meeting when his fellow senators drew their daggers and stabbed Caesar until he died. One of the conspirators was Caesar's oldest friend and staunchest supporter, Marcus Junius Brutus. Rumour has it, that as the senators drew their daggers, one of the assassins yelled "Thus always to tyrants".
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AugustusAugustus was styled as "Rome's First Emperor". He never called himself Emperor, but his full title became "Imperator Caesar Divi Filius Augustus" (Emperor Caesar, The exalted one, and son of the divine). When he was in his teens, Julius Caesar (his grand uncle) adopted him and he changed his name from Gaius Octavius to Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus. After 44bce, when Caesar was assassinated, Octavius joined with Lepidus and Marc Antony to form the second Triumvirate and rule Rome. After a while this Triumvirate fell apart and the Second Civil war happened. In 27bce, Marc Antony was defeated by Octavian's best friend and General Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa at the Battle of Actium. After 27bce, Octavius (now Augustus) ushered in an era of peace, known as Pax Romana, which lasted almost 200 years and was a period of massive prosperity and expansion for Rome.
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CaligulaCaligula was officially known as "Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus". The name Caligula is a nickname earned when he was on campaign with his father, and it means "Little Soldiers Boot". He was Emperor between 37ce and 41ce. At first, Caligula's reign started well. He started by abolishing sales taxes, holding lots of games at the Colosseum, and ensuring the Senate was able to pass laws that were beneficial to Rome. He was a very active member of Roman society and in one of the games, he even fought a whale. Eventually the stresses of power and wealth started to take their toll. At his lowest point, he tried to get his horse elected as Consul. He began to spend so extravagantly that he caused a financial crisis in Rome. Under his reign, he reintroduced taxes and made laws that required the wealthy to leave their estates to him when they died. In 41ce, Caligula's own Praetorian Guard murdered him.
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Nero was officially Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus. He was 17 when he ascended to the throne and began his rule well, focusing on developing the arts and ensuring the prestige of the Roman Empire in the East. Under his rule, Rome faced purges of those Nero felt would oppose him, including his mother and half brothers. He campaigned in Judea, Parthia, and Britain. In 64ce, the Great Fire of Rome destroyed most of the city. After the fire came great purges and persecution of the Christians living in Rome, many people believe that Nero himself started it. In 68ce Nero committed suicide to prevent capture and humiliation at the hands of his enemies, this began one of the most tumultuous times in Roman history.
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Marcus Aurelius was officially Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus. From 161ce to 169 Aurelius ruled alongside his co-emperor Verus. Under his reign, the Parthian Empire was destroyed and the campaign to fully subdue the Germanic tribes in North-East Europe was begun. The war in the East with Parthia caused an outbreak of the plague in the Roman Empire which lasted for almost 20 years. To add to this, Aurelius had to deal with a famine in the 160's due to disastrous flooding along the Tiber river. Marcus Aurelius is usually considered to be the last of the "Five Good Emperors", having been a deep philosopher and someone who worked towards the rights and wellbeing of women and slaves within his empire.
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Constantine I was born circa 280 in Naissus, Moesia (now Niš, Serbia). His father became the Western Roman emperor in 305; after his father's death, Constantine fought to take power. He became the Western emperor in 312 and the sole Roman emperor in 324. Constantine was also the first emperor to adhere to Christianity. He issued an edict that protected Christians in the empire and converted to Christianity on his deathbed in 337.
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