Julius Caesar

Roman general, statesman, and dictator — who conquered Gaul, crossed the Rubicon, became dictator of Rome, and was assassinated on the Ides of March 44 BC — whose writings (Gallic Wars, Civil War) are the most important first-person military accounts from antiquity.

Creates the template for the soldier-politician who uses military achievement to seize political power — Caesar's combination of military brilliance, political ruthlessness, clemency toward enemies, and literary self-presentation set the model for every subsequent would-be autocrat.