IULIUS CAESAR, CAIUS

(100–44 BC)

Roman dictator. Son of Caius Iulius Caesar and Aurelia. He had a successful political career culminating in the consulship of 59 BC. Caesar obtained an appointment as governor of Roman Gaul (then only covering modern Provence) and exhibited exceptional military skill in conquering the whole of Gaul (modern France and part of Belgium). Attacked by political opponents at home, he invaded Italy in 49 BC and was proclaimed dictator. Caesar defeated his rival, Gnaeus Pompeius, at Pharsalus and followed the latter’s flight to Egypt, where he discovered that Pompeius had been murdered and Egypt was engulfed in civil war between Ptolemy XIII and his sister, Cleopatra VII. He sided with Cleopatra, who became his mistress, and following the defeat and death of Ptolemy, he installed her as ruler of Egypt alongside her younger brother, Ptolemy XIV. She claimed that Caesar was the father of her son, Ptolemy XV, known as Caesarion. Cleopatra was in Rome when Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC.