The book explores the extent to which aspects of Julius Caesars selfrepresentation in his commentaries constituent themes and characterization have been appropriated or contested across the English dramatic canon from the late 1500s until the end of the 19th century. Caesar in his own words constructs his image as a supreme commander characterised by exceptional celerity and mercifulness he is also defined by the heightened sense of selfdramatization achieved by the selfreferential use of the third person and emerges as a quasidivine hero inhabiting a literaryhistorical reality. Channelled through Lucans epic Bellum Civile and ancient historiography these Caesarean qualities reach drama and take the shape of ambivalent hubris political roleplaying selfinstitutionalization and an exceptional relationship with temporality.Focusing on major dramatic texts with rich performance history such as Shakespeares Julius Caesar Handels opera Giulio Cesare in Egitto and Bernard Shaws Caesar and Cleopatra but also a number of lesser known early modern plays the book encompasses different levels of dramas active engagement with the process of reception of Caesars iconic and controversial personality.