Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman who played a critical role in the events that led to the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire. After his successful conquest of Gaul, Caesar famously crossed the Rubicon river with his army, triggering a civil war that left him as the unrivaled leader of Rome. As 'Dictator in Perpetuity,' he implemented radical reforms, including the creation of the Julian calendar and the reorganization of local government. His centralization of power alarmed the Roman Senate, leading to his assassination on the Ides of March. Despite his short rule, his name became a title for subsequent emperors (Caesar/Kaiser/Czar) and his military and political strategies continue to be studied. His life and death have been immortalized in literature, most notably by William Shakespeare.