Search results
The Rubicon is a shallow river in northeastern Italy that was crossed by Julius Caesar in 49 BC to start a civil war. Learn about the history, location, and identification of the ancient river and its modern name.
The phrase "crossing the Rubicon" is an idiom that means "passing a point of no return". [1] Its meaning comes from allusion to the crossing of the river Rubicon from the north by Julius Caesar in early January 49 BC.
Rubicon, small stream that separated Cisalpine Gaul from Italy in the era of the Roman Republic. The movement of Julius Caesar’s forces over the Rubicon into Italy in 49 bce violated the law (the Lex Cornelia Majestatis) that forbade a general to lead an army out of the province to which he was.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Learn how Julius Caesar's decision to cross the river Rubicon in 49 BC sparked a civil war that led to his dictatorship and the rise of the Roman Empire. Explore the historical context, the sources and the legacy of this famous phrase.
- History Hit
Apr 20, 2014 · Caesar marched a single legion to the boundary between Gaul and Italy, marked by the small river, and he knew that to go any further was forbidden. In the eyes of Rome, he would be an enemy of the state but he still crossed the Rubicon, sparking civil war.
- Abigail Whyte
Learn how Caesar defied the Senate and crossed the Rubicon River in 49 B.C., triggering a civil war that made him a dictator of Rome. Explore the historical context, the sources, and the legacy of this famous decision.
Learn about the historical event of January 10, 49 B.C.E., when Julius Caesar defied the law and entered Rome with his army, sparking a civil war that led to the end of the Roman Republic. Explore the vocabulary, background, and consequences of Caesar's famous crossing of the Rubicon.
