Name: Gaius Julius Caesar
Lived: 100–44 BC, Roman Republic
Known for: Military general, statesman, and reformer
Famous for: Conqueror of Gaul; played a critical role in the fall of the Roman Republic and rise of the Roman Empire
Note: The phrase "Alea iacta est" (“The die is cast”) was spoken by Julius Caesar as he crossed the Rubicon River on January 10, 49 BC. This marked the start of the Roman Civil War, which ultimately led to the rise of the Roman Empire.