Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a good king or ruler? Julius Caesar is one of the most famous rulers of all time. He was one of the greatest and most powerful rulers of Rome. His changes to the empire helped bring Rome to new levels of success. Caesar's life was short, but wonderful. It is important to know this great man and his many accomplishments. Gaius Julius Caesar was born on July 13, 100 BC to a poor patrician family in Rome (“Julius Caesar”; Gruen 12). For most of his young life, Caesar lived in an apartment building in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Rome. He was a good student and studied subjects such as public speaking, philosophy and even martial arts. Born into a family believed to have long ancestry from Roman royalty, Caesar quickly found success in Rome at a young age. Caesar married Cornelia, his first wife, at the age of 17 (“Julius Caesar”; Gruen 12). The first of many political offices Caesar would hold in Rome was that of praetor. Elected in his first bid, Caesar was elected to the position in 62 BC. He was also elected this way when he was elected consul in 59 BC. Even with other Roman senators trying to keep him out of office, Caesar continued to hold power and form alliances with other political leaders such as Pompey and Crassus (“Julius Caesar;” Gruen 13). Pompey himself helped Caesar become consul because Caesar had given land to the poor and to Pompey's troops (Combee 95). After success and alliances with the rulers of other countries, Caesar went to Gaul in an attempt to conquer more lands and further expand his power. Conquering many lands in Gaul, Caesar took nine years to complete his campaigns. By treating the Gauls fairly, Caesar became very well known...... middle of paper ...... these are just a few accomplishments of such a successful man. In conclusion, Julius Caesar lived a very successful life. . Many years after his death, Caesar's achievements are still recognized today. Even though many people consider Caesar a poor leader, we can still learn from his many successes today and use them to improve our lives. During his years as ruler of Rome, Caesar made many changes to the empire that led it to even greater success. When will the next leader with Caesar-like power emerge? The world can only wait and see. Works Cited Combe, Jerry H. World History from a Christian Perspective. Pensacola, FL: A BekaBook, 1995. Print. Gruen, Erich S. “Caesar, Julius”. World Book Encyclopedia. 2009 ed. Print. “Julius Caesar: first man of Rome”. January 4, 2010. The web. March 2010 .