by Jonathan Waagner Jessen

Created on: July 27, 2010

"Veni, vidi, vici."

I came, I saw, I conquered. These famous words were spoken by -according to many people- the world's greatest man.

Julius Caesar possessed admirable leadership, good strategical and tactical abilities, and devotion to spread Rome greater than ever. These ambitions, united with Romes economic and military capacities of that time, helped him reach the Atlantic coast, with the succesful invasion of Gaul. Caesar also conducted the first Roman invasion of Britain in 55 BC.

Julius Caesar, born 13th July 100 BC- dead 15th March 44 BC, also turned the Roman Republic, into the Roman Empire, giving him unlimited power of the worlds greatest empire of all time. Therefore he was assassinated, by a group of senators with Caesars son in the front, Marcus Junius Brutus. The senators despised Caesars conversion of the Roman Republic into the dictatorial Empire, and sought a continuation of the former republic policies. At his assassination Caesar is supposed to have said, when he saw his son by his murders; "and you, son?"

However, the assasination of Caesar did not secure a continuation of the former strong Roman Republic, it led to years of civil war, weakening the once great Roman Republic. The senators did not even suceed in converting Rome back to a republic, instead, heir to Caesar, Augustus continued the Roman Empire, as once led by Julius Caesar. The conversion of the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire is often regarded as the beginning of the decline of Rome.

Julius Caesar's impact on the Roman Republic, and later Empire, is the greatest any head of state of Rome ever had. Caesar was a brilliant strategist, a devoted politician, and a man that will be remembered in history. Caesar's territorial gains in Britain and mainland Europe cannot be denied, but Caesar also damaged Rome by converting it from one ideology to another. In deciding whether his actions were more damaging than expanding; his territorial gains were of far more matter than the civil war in Rome. However, one must not forget that the civil war had a negative effect on the morality of the people of Rome. It also showed internal weakness to Romes outside enemies.

No matter what, we will always remember Julius Caesar as the most recognisable Roman generals and politicians of all time, and he will in the many coming centuries be remembered as the man he was; a political and strategical genius.

Learn more about this author, Jonathan Waagner Jessen.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.