January 10, 50 BC
Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon River with his 13th Legion, committing treason against the Roman Republic and initiating a civil war that would transform Rome from a republic into an empire. His famous declaration 'the die is cast' marked this pivotal moment in history.
September 4, 476
The Western Roman Empire officially ended when Germanic leader Odoacer deposed the last Roman emperor, Romulus Augustulus, marking the end of nearly 1,000 years of Roman dominance over Western Europe.
