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In 60 BC, Caesar, Crassus and Pompey the Great formed an alliance (“First Triumvirate”) that was to dominate Roman politics for several years. He was elected as a Consul in 59 BC shortly after forming the triumvirate. The alliance’s attempts to amass power through populism were naturally opposed by the elite of the Roman Senate, among them Cato the Younger and Cicero.
Caesar's conquest of Gaul in 51 BC extended Rome's territory to the English Channel and to the banks of the Rhine River. Caesar let his armies to cross both when he built a bridge across the Rhine and conducted the first invasion of Britain.
The AR Denarius was issued by the military mint traveling with Caesar. The elephant is advancing right, trampling on a horned serpent representing the opposition. The sinlge word “CAESAR” says it all. Emblems of the priestly pontificate: simpulum, aspergillum, securis, and apex are shown on the reverse.
Pompey forced his cause before the Senate, and the Senators called for Caesar to stand trial in Rome for various charges. Consequently, Caesar marched from Gaul to Rome with his Legion and decidedly “crossed the Rubicon” in 49 BC. A civil war arose during which the popular Caesar prevailed leaving little consequential opposition.
After assuming control of government, he began extensive reforms of Roman society and government. He centralised the bureaucracy of the Republic and was eventually proclaimed "dictator in perpetuity". A group of senators, led by Marcus Junius Brutus, assassinated the dictator on the Ides of March (15 March) 44 BC, hoping to restore the constitutional government of the Republic. However, the result was a series of civil wars, which ultimately led to the establishment of the permanent Roman Empire by Caesar's adopted heir Octavius (later known as Augustus).