Who was Julius Caesar?

Julius Caesar was a military and political leader in Rome in the last century before Christ.  He became well known because of his part in changing over Rome from a republic to an empire.  Here is a brief overview:

Caesar was a successful military man.  This earned him a name in Rome and allowed him to garner some power.  With that power, he was able to gain more power and more of an army.  He used this army to conquer lands in the name of Rome, particularly in the Gallic War.  He was also successful in carrying the Roman army onto the island of Britain and helping to establish Roman settlements there. 

His success in these areas made him very popular with the troops and with much of the public of Rome.  However, he was often at odds with the Senate, who felt that Caesar had too much power.  When the Senate asked Caesar to give up the post he held as Proconsul, Caesar refused (for various reasons).  Instead, he brought his army, crossed the Rubicon, and entered Rome in Civil War.  He fought armies of the leader Pompey and won, and got himself appointed dictator.  He resigned this post, but was repeatedly elected to the post of consul.  His multiple terms, and his popularity amongst the people, made others nervous.  There was a feeling that he would again be made, or make himself, a dictator.

He actually was made dictator two more times, and was given the title of Father of the Fatherland.  Although each of his "dictatorships" were still set by term limits, his power and control was largely at odds with purpose of the Senate overall.  In 44 BC, a group of senators - the most famous being Brutus - conspired and assassinated Caesar.  The effect was not what they hoped.  Rather than returning Rome to a full republic, the assassination enraged the public and brought about the downfall of the Senate and the installment of Caesar's nephew as Emperor - and Rome moved from republic to empire.