50 BC – 40 BCs

Events in 50 BC – 40 BC 4

• 58 BC – 50 BC Caesar's Gallic Wars Julius Caesar conquers Gaul (modern France, Belgium and parts of Germany and Switzerland) in a series of campaigns from 58 to 50 BC, recorded in his own Commentarii de Bello Gallico — still used to teach Latin. He bridges the Rhine twice, makes two expeditions to Britain, and suppresses the great revolt of Vercingetorix (52 BC), culminating in the siege of Alesia. The conquest kills perhaps one million Gauls and enslaves another million. Caesar enriches himself enormously and acquires an army of hardened veterans loyal to him personally.
• 49 BC – 45 BC Caesar's Civil War On 10 January 49 BC, Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon river — the boundary of his province — with his army, an act of war against the Roman state. "Alea iacta est" — the die is cast. Pompey and the Senate flee Italy. Caesar defeats Pompeian forces in Spain, then pursues Pompey to Greece, winning the decisive battle of Pharsalus (48 BC). Pompey flees to Egypt and is murdered on arrival. Caesar defeats the remaining Pompeian forces at Thapsus (46 BC) and Munda (45 BC). He is master of the Roman world.
• 44 BC Assassination of Julius Caesar On the Ides of March (15 March) 44 BC, Julius Caesar is stabbed 23 times on the floor of the Theatre of Pompey by a group of senators — the Liberatores — led by Brutus and Cassius. Caesar had been appointed dictator perpetuo (dictator in perpetuity) weeks earlier, making a return to republican government impossible in their view. Mark Antony's funeral oration turns the crowd against the assassins. Caesar's assassination, intended to save the Republic, instead destroys it — the civil wars that follow end with Octavian as Augustus.
• 43 BC – 36 BC Second Triumvirate — Octavian, Antony, Lepidus Octavian (Caesar's heir), Mark Antony and Lepidus form a legal triumvirate in 43 BC with extraordinary powers. They immediately publish proscription lists: 300 senators and 2,000 equestrians are condemned. Among those killed is Cicero, whose severed head and hands are displayed on the Rostra in the Forum. At Philippi (42 BC) they defeat Brutus and Cassius, both of whom commit suicide. The triumvirs divide the Roman world — Antony takes the east, Octavian the west, Lepidus Africa.