Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman who helped transform Rome into an empire. Some of his accomplishments included being elected military tribune in 72 BC and leading the first invasion of Britain in 55 BC. As dictator, he reorganized Rome's grain distribution and founded military colonies, but his victories and honors concentrated power in himself and threatened the traditional Roman republican form of government, leading to his assassination in 44 BC by a group of senators who feared he had become too powerful.