The Histoire de Jules César appeared in two volumes, published in 1865 and 1866. The first volume was a history of Rome, from its foundation until Caesar’s consulship in 59 BCE. The second volume was dedicated to the Gallic Wars. The emperor wanted to compare ancient texts with archaeological data. He based his work on The Conquest of Gaul by Julius Caesar, in which the Roman general wrote about his military operations against the Gauls between 58 and 52 BCE. He also referred to the excavations carried out at Alise-Sainte-Reine and used the maps made by the Commission de Topographie des Gaules.

The emperor signed the first volume of this copy of his prestigious book, which he gave to the library of the musée de Saint-Germain on its inauguration on 12 May 1867.