Even though he was never an emperor during the Roman Empire, Julius Caesar is credited for laying the foundation of Imperial Rome during the Republic. In 60 BC, Caesar served with Marcus Crassus and Pompey the Great in the first Triumvirate (an alliance of three) for Rome's leadership.
Over the course of a decade, Caesar subdued Gaul (France) and invaded Britain, expanding Rome's size. Back home, Crassus and Pompey plotted to usurp Caesar's share of the throne. Caesar marched into Italy and said, "The die is cast," beginning a civil war. Crassus was killed on a non-related military campaign in Syria, so Caesar followed Pompey into Egypt, where Pompey was assassinated. In 44 BC, Caesar assumed the position of "Dictator for Life".
The Senate was fearful of Caesar's power, and on March 15, 44 BC, fatally stabbed him 23 times. Gaius Cassius and Caesar's one-time protégé Marcus Brutus were among the senator assassins.
The Senate thought Caesar's murder would restore their domination. Instead, Rome was plunged into another civil war that lasted until 27 BC when the Senate gave Caesar's adopted son Octavian the name Augustus ("the revered one"). The Roman Empire had begun.
Let's go... ummmm... that way...
OK, boys... I think you got him...
While chasing Pompey into Egypt, Caesar restored Queen Cleopatra VII to Egypt's throne. (She had been removed by her brother Ptolemy XIII.) The two "hooked up" (he was 50; she was 21) and had a kid named Ptolemy Caesar.
After Caesar died, his deputy Mark Antony turned on Brutus and Cassius, forcing them to flee to Greece. (The two committed suicide.) When Antony allied with Cleopatra, he was branded a traitor. Caesar's adopted son Octavian destroyed Antony and Cleopatra's armies. The two then killed themselves. (She was bit by an asp.)
The word "Caesarean" comes from a law enacted during Caesar's reign. If a mother was dying, she could be operated on to save the baby. Contrary to popular belief, Julius Caesar himself was NOT born that way.
Shakespeare coined the phrases "Beware the Ides of March" and "Et tu, Brute?" The "Ides" refer to the middle of any month. "Et tu, Brute?" means "And you, Brutus?" and is what Caesar said when Brutus stabbed him.
Caesar... I'm watchin' you...
According to the historian Suetonius Tranquillus, it was after Julius Caesar routed the rebellious King of Pontus in Turkey that he said, "Veni. Vidi. Vici." (This means, "I came. I saw. I conquered.")
Little Caesar's Pizza has the greatest breadsticks in the world. No joke. Crazy Bread is amazing.