Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general, statesman, and author who played a critical role in the events that led to the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire. He was born in 100 BC into a patrician family and rose to prominence through his military and political achievements. Caesar is best known for his military campaigns in Gaul, his role in the civil war that led to his becoming dictator of Rome, and his reforms that greatly influenced the Roman Empire. He was assassinated in 44 BC, but his legacy continued to shape Roman history for centuries to come.