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Julius Caesar famously collapsed at the battle of Thapsus in 46BC and had to be carried to safety.

Historians have long believed this was result of an epileptic attack, highlighting other symptoms such as vertigo, dizziness and weakness in his limbs.

But new research suggests that the Roman general may in fact have been suffering from a series of mini-strokes that affected both his mental and physical state.

Julius Caesar famously collapsed at the battle of Thapsus in 46BC and had to be carried to safety.Historians have long believed this was result of an epileptic attack, but new research suggests otherwise. Pictured is Ciaran Hinds Julius Caesar in the drama series 'Rome'

Doctors at Imperial College London came to the conclusion after taking a new look at Caesar's symptoms described in Greek and Roman documents, according to a report by Ian Sample in the Guardian.

'Possible cardiovascular explanations have always been ruled out on the grounds that until his death he was supposedly otherwise physically well during both private and stately affairs,' the researchers wrote in their study.

Francesco Galassi, a medical doctor at Imperial who conducted the analysis with Hutan Ashrafian, a surgeon at the college, say there are a number of symptoms that mini-strokes can explain better than epilepsy.

New research suggests that the Roman general may in fact have been suffering from a series of mini-strokes that affected both his mental and physical state. Doctors at Imperial College London came to the conclusion after taking a new look at Caesar's symptoms described in Greek and Roman documents

For instance, Caesar was known to suffer from depression towards the end of his life, which may have been the result of damage to his brain from the strokes.

In his biography of Caesar, the Greek historian Plutarch describes how the leader supposedly had a very public attack of his disease.

This took place on the floor of the senate, where he cried that anyone who wished to kill him could.

Plutarch says that Caesar later claimed that it was due to epilepsy, which causes him to become giddy when in front of large crowds.

'When re-evaluating his symptoms, it can be noted that Caesar suffered falls during his campaigns in Spain and Africa at Cordoba and Thapsus,' the researchers write.

'He reported symptoms of headaches, vertigo and later on mentioned giddiness and insensibility, when he could not stand up as senators honoured him.'

There may have been social reasons why the military leader, and his chosen heir, Octavian, believed they suffered from epilepsy.

In antiquity epilepsy was referred to as the 'sacred disease' among the Greeks. It was generally perceived by those uneducated in medicine or as being the result of possession by a deity. 

In literature, epileptics were often the possessors of powers and the subjects of divine favour.

But the researchers note that both Caesar's father and another forefather died without an obvious cause.

This may point to the fact that they also suffered from mini-strokes, a condition that can come about due to genetic disposition.