The full name of Julius Caesar was Gaius Julius Caesar. He lived from July 12 or 13, 100 BC – March 15, 44 BC and was a Roman military and political leader.

His conquest of Gaul (now France) extended the Roman world all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. He then made the first Roman invasion of Britannia (Britain) in 55 BC.

He is widely considered to be one of the greatest military geniuses of all time, as well as a brilliant politician and one of the ancient world's strongest leaders.

Caesar had to fight against other Romans for control of the Roman empire. After he won, he was made ruler for life.

Caesar's friend Marcus Brutus plotted with others to kill Caesar, because they were afraid that Julius might try to make himself a king. They planned to kill him so that they could rule instead. Eventually Caesar's great nephew and adopted son Octavian (later known as Caesar Augustus) became the first emperor.

The invasion of Britain

In 55 BC Caesar landed on the coast because he thought that the Gauls were receiving aid from Britain. Towards the end of the summer, he decided that it would be useful to get some reliable information about the people, localities and harbours of the island, since little useful information was available from the Gauls or the merchants who visited it.

Within days he received ambassadors from British tribes, promising that they would give hostages and submit to the Romans. He received them favourably.

Caesar's fleet comprised about 80 transport ships for two legions. He also had ships of war and 18 ships of burden for his cavalry. Caesar sailed for Britain with the legions, but was met by the massed forces of the Britons gathered on the hills and cliffs overlooking the shore. After waiting at anchor for several hours, he sailed about seven miles, tracked all the way by the British cavalry and chariots, and made an opposed landing on an open beach. The size of the ships meant that the Romans had to disembark in deep water, while the British attacked from the shallows. The British were eventually driven back with projectiles fired from the ships of war and the Romans managed to land and drive them off.

The Romans established a camp and received ambassadors. Caesar demanded hostages. But storms had damaged his fleet and so he returned to Gaul.
After several days of storms, the British regrouped with a larger force and attacked the Roman camp, but were once again driven off. Commius had been able to provide some horsemen from his people, so a large number of Britons were killed in retreat, and the Romans laid waste to the surrounding area. Once again the British sent ambassadors. Caesar demanded double the number of hostages, but realising his position was untenable ordered them to be delivered to Gaul (only two tribes eventually made good this promise). With as many of the ships as were salvageable repaired and the equinox drawing near, the Romans returned to Gaul.

In 54 BC, Caesar returned with a larger force, perhaps 800 ships, many of which were built to Caesar's specifications: broader and lower for easier beaching.

The Britons did not oppose the landing, apparently frightened by the size of the fleet. Caesar made an immediate night march inland, driving the Britons back, but when his ships were once again damaged in a storm he was forced to retreat and regroup.

The invasion could only last a season as Caesar was aware of trouble closer to home. No territory was conquered, but Caesar had brought Britain further into Rome's sphere of influence, and over the next century diplomatic and trading links grew.