Caesar's power was based on his status of
dictator. This duty was lent him for lifetime (dictator perpetuus),
though in the constitution of the former republic it was limited
for exceptional situations and also timely limited of six month to
lend someone this status. Although he rejected the title Rex
(king), which especially was hated by the republican forces, his
control had strongly monarchical features. In 45 BC he was elected
for the duty of the consul for ten years and he was fitted out with
other authorities, too. So he had the supervision over all armed
forces and he was allowed to ware the robe and the golden wreath of
the successful commander permanent. As Pontifex Maximus he had also
the whole control of decision over all religious affairs.
His rule contained a widely designed reform-program for
the new-formation of the state and the provinces. E.g. he reformed
the calendar, supplied his veterans with land and simplified the
preconditions for the purchase of the Roman civil right. But
especially in spheres of opposing senator families, his
power-position was turned down. Then in 44 BC a group of republic
senators - in that group Gaius Cassius and Marcus Imius Brutus -
planed a tyrannical-murder and stabbed Caesar to death in the Iden
of March (March, 15th) when he just wanted to enter the senate's
building.