6.5 The Assassination of Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar's assassination marked a pivotal moment in Roman history. His military victories and growing power led to tensions with the Senate, culminating in a conspiracy involving key figures like Brutus and Cassius.

The assassination, meant to preserve the Republic, instead sparked chaos and civil war. This ultimately paved the way for Octavian's rise to power, ironically fulfilling the conspirators' fears by ending the Republic and ushering in the Roman Empire.

Assassination of Julius Caesar

Events Leading to the Assassination

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• Caesar's military victories in Gaul increased his popularity among Romans led to growing tension with the Senate
• Crossing the Rubicon in 49 BCE defied Senate's order to disband army initiated civil war against Pompey
• Defeat of Pompey resulted in Caesar's appointment as dictator for life in 44 BCE
• Consolidation of power alarmed senators who feared end of Roman Republic
  • Assumed various political and religious offices
  • Accepted god-like honors (right to wear purple toga, golden chair in Senate)
• Planned military campaign against Parthians would have made challenging his authority difficult

Key Figures in the Conspiracy

• Marcus Junius Brutus joined conspiracy despite personal relationship with Caesar
• Gaius Cassius Longinus organized conspirators as primary instigator
• Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus lured Caesar to Senate meeting on Ides of March
• Marcus Tullius Cicero provided intellectual justification for conspirators' actions
• Approximately 60 senators involved represented significant portion of Roman political elite
• Mark Antony deliberately excluded from plot distracted by Trebonius on assassination day

Motives for Caesar's Assassination

• Preservation of Roman Republic and traditions threatened by Caesar's power accumulation
• Personal ambition and resentment of Caesar's political dominance drove some conspirators
• Assassination occurred on Ides of March (March 15) 44 BCE at Senate meeting in Theatre of Pompey
• Caesar stabbed 23 times by conspirators
  • Last words reportedly "Et tu, Brute?" ("You too, Brutus?") in Latin
  • Or "Kai su, teknon?" ("You too, my child?") in Greek
• Conspirators lacked clear governance plan led to chaos and uncertainty
• Mark Antony's funeral oration turned public opinion against conspirators caused riots in Rome
• Octavian (later Augustus) returned to Rome claimed inheritance positioned himself as Caesar's successor

Consequences of Caesar's Assassination

Immediate Aftermath

• Assassination failed to restore Roman Republic led to another period of civil war
• Power vacuum resulted in formation of Second Triumvirate (Octavian, Mark Antony, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus)
• Conflict between triumvirs and conspirators culminated in Battle of Philippi 42 BCE
  • Brutus and Cassius defeated committed suicide
• Split between Octavian and Mark Antony led to final civil war
  • Ended with Octavian's victory at Battle of Actium 31 BCE

Long-Term Impact

• Octavian's rise to power as Augustus marked end of Roman Republic beginning of Roman Empire
• Assassination became powerful symbol in Roman and Western culture
  • Influenced political thought and literature for centuries
• Transition from Republic to Empire altered Roman governance, military structure, societal organization
  • Shaped course of Western civilization
• Ironically fulfilled fear that motivated Caesar's assassins (end of Republic)