Caesar, [Gaius] Julius

100 B.C. - Birth of the Roman general, politician, and reformer.

84 BC - Married Cornelia, Lucius Cornelius CINNA's daughter - rejected the order of Lucius Cornelius SULLA to divorce her - joined populist party led by Lucius Cornelius Cinna the Elder, becoming rival of Sulla, leader of oligarchic party  

80 BC - Collected a fleet from Nicomedes IV of Bythinia, his Roman ally 78 BC - returned home after Sulla died 77 BC - supported refurbishment of tribunation powers and the recall from exile of the people who supported Marcus Aemilius LEPIDUS in Caesar's revolt 75-74 BC - had the pirates, who captured him while he was on his way to Rhodes, executed as soon as he obtained ransom - in 74 BC, fought against MITHRADATES VI of Pontus 73 BC - became a pontiff at Rome

72-71 BC - Between these years, he took the side of the people who seek power from outside the circle of nobles dominating the Senate 69-68 BC - quaestor in Spain - in 68 BC, he married Pompeia after Cornelia died 65 BC - curule aedile   64 BC - presided the trials of the people who committed murder during Sulla's proscription 63 BC - pontifex maximus   62 BC - praetor   61 BC - governor of Further Spain - protege of Marcus Licinius Crassus - reconciled Crassus with Pompey the Great, marrying Pompey's relative Pompeia to cement alliance   60 BC - with Crassus and Pompey, formed 1st Triumvirate   59 BC - consul   58 BC - proconsul in Cisalpine Gaul and Illyria   58 BC - 051b - upon migration of Helvetii from Switzerland to Gaul, launched conquest of Gaul (Gallic Wars)   58 BC - defeated Helvetii at Bibracte - defeated Suevi under Ariovistus at Vesontio   57 BC - defeated Belgii (including Nervii) in northwestern Gaul   56 BC - defeated Veneti in Brittany - defeated Aquitani in southwestern Gaul  

55 BC, 53 BC - Crossed Rhine for forays into Germany   55 BC - unsuccessfully invaded Britain   54 BC - launched more successful invasion of Britain - defeating Cassivellaunus north of Thames - began estrangement from Crassus and Pompey following death of daughter Julia (wife of Pompey)   52 BC - suppressed revolt led by Vercingetorix   51 BC - destroyed remaining resistance   49 BC - disregarded senate's order to disband army, and instead crossed Rubicon river (boundary between Gaul and Italy proper) initiating civil war against Pompey - upon crossing Rubicon, made remark "Alea iacta est" (also "The die is cast")   49 BC-48 BC - quickly gained control over all Italy as Pompey fled to eastern provinces   49 BC-44 BC - de facto dictator of Rome   48 BC - pursued Pompey to Epirus and defeated him at battle of Pharsalus prompting Pompey to flee to Egypt - pursued Pompey to Egypt, where Pompey was murdered on orders of Ptolemy XII, and initiated successful war resulting in downfall of Ptolemy XII - installed Cleopatra VII and Ptolemy XIII as co-regents of Egypt and conducted love affair with Cleopatra   47 BC - upon invasion of Roman-controlled Syria by Pharnaces II, advanced into Pontus and defeated Pharnaces at battle of Zela  (subject of Caesar's remark "Veni, vidi, vici", also "I came, I saw, I conquered")  

46 BC - Returned to Rome and suppressed mutiny by Tenth Legion   46 BC - defeated remaining Pompey loyalists at battle of Thapsus in Africa   - instituted more accurate calendar, with 365.25 days per year (Julian calendar)  

45 BC - After winning the battle of Munda in Spain he then returned to Rome - initiated reforms, including enlargement of senate and broader extension of citizenship - wrote history-commentaries "De bello Gallico" (also "On the Gallic War") and "De bello civili" (also "On the Civil War")   44 BC - formally offered royal crown, but declined - began planning the Parthian conquest - on March 15, he was assassinated by conspiracy of subordinates, led by Marcus Brutus, Gaius Cassius Longinus, and Decimus Brutus; he was stabbed at a meeting of the Senate in Pompey's theater (Ides of March)