Quiz on Julius Caesar

In which ancient city did Caesar's military and political career unfold?

• Rome ✓ (Correct answer)
• Athens
• Carthage
• Alexandria

Source: Though he campaigned across Europe and Egypt, Caesar's power base was always the Roman Republic itself.

What title did Julius Caesar accept that gave him power for life?

• Dictator ✓ (Correct answer)
• Emperor
• King
• Pharaoh

Source: Caesar was named dictator perpetuo, dictator for life, but never took the title of king, which Romans despised.

Which Egyptian queen became Caesar's lover and ally?

• Cleopatra ✓ (Correct answer)
• Nefertiti
• Hatshepsut
• Berenice

Source: She reportedly had herself smuggled to Caesar rolled inside a carpet or bedding to gain a secret audience.

Caesar famously conquered which region inhabited by Celtic tribes?

• Gaul ✓ (Correct answer)
• Britannia
• Hispania
• Germania

Source: His eight-year campaign across modern France is recorded in his own book, the Gallic Wars.

Caesar's heir and adopted son became Rome's first what?

• Emperor ✓ (Correct answer)
• Pope
• Consul
• Senator

Source: His adopted heir, later titled Augustus, transformed the Republic into an empire ruled by emperors.

Which river did Caesar cross to march on Rome, defying the Senate?

• Rubicon ✓ (Correct answer)
• Tiber
• Po
• Rhine

Source: Crossing it with his army was an act of war, which is why "crossing the Rubicon" still means a point of no return.

On what day was Caesar assassinated, warned to beware it?

• The Ides of March ✓ (Correct answer)
• The Kalends of May
• The Nones of June
• The Ides of April

Source: A soothsayer's warning to "beware the Ides of March" became one of history's most famous omens.

Which rival did Caesar defeat in a civil war for control of Rome?

• Pompey ✓ (Correct answer)
• Hannibal
• Spartacus
• Marius

Source: Once allies and even in-laws, the two former friends fought a war that decided the fate of the Republic.

Caesar reformed the Roman timekeeping system by introducing what?

• A solar calendar ✓ (Correct answer)
• The seven-day week
• The hourglass
• The sundial

Source: The Julian calendar fixed the year at 365 days with a leap day, and the month of July is named after him.

Caesar formed a power-sharing alliance with Pompey and which rich Roman?

• Crassus ✓ (Correct answer)
• Cicero
• Cato
• Brutus

Source: This First Triumvirate united Rome's best general, its richest man, and its rising star, Caesar.

Which Latin phrase did Caesar reportedly use to report a swift victory?

• Veni, vidi, vici ✓ (Correct answer)
• Alea iacta est
• Et tu, Brute
• Carpe diem

Source: "I came, I saw, I conquered" boasted of a battle in Asia Minor won in just a few hours.

When Caesar reached the western edge of Gaul, which island did he invade?

• Britain ✓ (Correct answer)
• Ireland
• Sicily
• Corsica

Source: His two crossings of the Channel were the first Roman expeditions to the misty island across the water.

Which conquered country's throne dispute drew Caesar into a dangerous war?

• Egypt ✓ (Correct answer)
• Greece
• Spain
• Syria

Source: Backing Cleopatra against her brother, Caesar was besieged in Alexandria and nearly drowned escaping.

Which Gallic chieftain led the great revolt against Caesar?

• Vercingetorix ✓ (Correct answer)
• Boudica
• Brennus
• Ambiorix

Source: He united dozens of feuding Gallic tribes under one banner, then was paraded through Rome in chains and executed years later.

Whom did Caesar choose as his main political heir in his will?

• Octavian ✓ (Correct answer)
• Mark Antony
• Brutus
• Lepidus

Source: The teenage grand-nephew was a surprise pick over Caesar's trusted right hand, Mark Antony.

Caesar pardoned many enemies through a deliberate policy known as what?

• Clemency ✓ (Correct answer)
• Proscription
• Exile
• Triumph

Source: His famous mercy spared several former enemies, a number of whom later joined the plot to kill him.

At which siege did Caesar trap the Gauls behind double rings of fortifications?

• Alesia ✓ (Correct answer)
• Gergovia
• Bibracte
• Avaricum

Source: Caesar built a wall facing in and another facing out, fighting enemies on both sides at once.

Which conspirator's betrayal supposedly shocked Caesar most as he was stabbed?

• Brutus ✓ (Correct answer)
• Cassius
• Casca
• Cinna

Source: Shakespeare put the words "Et tu, Brute?" in his mouth, though no ancient source records that exact line.

Early in life, kidnappers held Caesar for ransom; what did he do afterward?

• Hunted and crucified them ✓ (Correct answer)
• Joined their crew
• Forgave them fully
• Paid them more

Source: Held by pirates, he joked he'd crucify them once freed, then did exactly that, mercifully cutting their throats first.

Roughly how many wounds did Caesar's attackers inflict during the assassination?

• Twenty-three ✓ (Correct answer)
• Twelve
• Seven
• Forty

Source: A physician's report cited by ancient writers said only one of the 23 stab wounds was actually fatal.