The end of the ancient Roman Republic is marked by the rise of Julius Caesar and the subsequent transition to the Roman Empire. The Republic faced internal strife due to class struggles, power struggles among elites, and military rivalries. In 44 BCE, Caesar's declaration as dictator for life and his assassination on the Ides of March highlighted the decline of republican governance. Following Caesar's death, a power struggle ensued, leading to the rise of his adopted heir, Octavian (later Augustus), who became the first emperor. In 27 BCE, the formal establishment of the Roman Empire signified the definitive collapse of the Republic.