Julius Caesar was born in Rome on 12 or 13 July 100 BC into the prestigious Julian clan. His family were closely connected with the Marian faction in Roman politics. Caesar himself progressed within the Roman political system, becoming in succession quaestor (69), aedile (65) and praetor (62). In 61-60 BC he served as governor of the Roman province of Spain. Back in Rome in 60, Caesar made a pact with Pompey and Crassus, who helped him to get elected as consul for 59 BC. The following year he was appointed a governor of Roman Gaul where he stayed for eight years, adding the whole of modern France and Belgium to the Roman empire, and making Rome safe from the possibility of Gallic invasions. He made two expeditions to Britain, in 55 BC and 54 BC.

He is considered one of the greatest military commanders in history with victories in numerous campaigns, most prominently his conquest of Gaul. In his political career, Caesar rose through the ranks to first unofficially rule Rome as part of the First Triumvirate and then become the most powerful man in the Roman Republic with the title of a dictator in perpetuity. He implemented many important reforms during his time as the undisputed leader of Rome, including measures to relieve the poor.