The Betrayal of a Trusted Ally: Julius Caesar's Assassination

Written by Emir Taha Macit

The assassination of Gaius Julius Caesar, the dictator of Rome between 49 and 44 BC, is an event that has piqued the interest of countless historians and researchers throughout the centuries. It is a story of betrayal and conspiracy among many other things. Furthermore, it has inspired some very prominent works to the degree that some details have been mixed up between the art and the actual event. With the intrigue and implications that the story brings, Julius Caesar’s assassination has played a pivotal role in the fall of the Roman Republic and shaped a great part of history.

Before we begin inspecting the entire story, we must first review a disclaimer. Due to the event being passed down by several different writers at the time, some information varies from teller to teller. This creates uncertainty regarding some specific details in the story, but most retellings are similar. It is essential to note that not all the information we will discuss is definitive. Furthermore, since various pieces of literature have been created about this ancient event, widespread misinformation has arisen, the most notable of which is the misattribution of Caesar’s last words as “You too, Brutus?” This quote comes from a Shakespearean play, often being misconstrued as what happened in the real event. Though a few historians who were witnesses to the event report that he may have said something along the lines of “You too, my child?”, the certainty of this quote having occurred is low.

Now, let’s start by analyzing the political climate of Rome in the years leading up to Caesar’s assassination to understand why it took place. Rome had been in political turmoil for many years before Caesar rose to power, having experienced multiple civil wars and internal conflicts. Caesar’s rise did not solve these internal problems, while also adding more fuel to the flame. Caesar brought a new system of power to the empire, weakening the control of the Senate while strengthening the influence of commanders with personal armies. This system gave Caesar absolute power to do almost anything he pleased, especially due to his victory over Pompey in the civil war that brought him to power. The war left no one who could rival Caesar in strength. He had also declared himself a dictator for life, despite the normal time frame for a dictator being as short as six months. All of this led a group of around 60 senators to start plotting the assassination of Julius Caesar.

The group consisted of senators who were fearful of Caesar’s long-term monarchy. The two main conspirators are thought to have been Gaius Cassius Longinus, a military general who was pardoned after being defeated under Pompey in the civil war, and Marcus Junius Brutus, an honorable statesman who was like a son to Caesar and had also been pardoned in the same war. While Cassius was mostly driven by personal vengeance, Brutus had joined the group because he believed Caesar’s rule would destroy the republic; he did not dislike Caesar for the most part. Caesar had given Brutus political offices and various other gifts throughout the years, showcasing how much he cared for him. Despite all the benefits, Brutus still decided that assassinating Caesar was crucial for the republic.

Their plan was clever but rushed due to some factors. They believed that they needed to assassinate Caesar before he left to pursue a large military campaign against the Parthians, an event which could grant him unquestionable power. They chose to assassinate him on the Ides of March in a Senate meeting in which no one but armless senators would be around. They wrongly believed this assassination would be enough to ensure the safety of the republic.

The meeting seemed calm as the conspirators gathered around Caesar’s seat to present him a petition. But suddenly, a conspirator quickly ripped off his toga, signaling the others to begin the attack. The stabs and slashes from the senators’ hidden daggers continuously wounded Caesar, but according to some historians, as soon as he saw Brutus joining in on the attack, he slowly laid down, covering himself with his toga. The attacks continued even after his life clearly ended, being stabbed 23 times. However, the conspirators did not anticipate the reaction of the Roman people, nor the consequences.

The public was scared and confused when they heard the news, unlike the conspirators’ anticipation of public support. Not only was Caesar’s death not enough to solve the problems of weakened Rome, but it also left the republic without a clear leader, leading to greater issues, such as a civil war that would last for more than a decade. The conspirators were later sentenced to death and hunted down under the law of Caesar’s nephew, Pedius.

In conclusion, the assassination of Julius Caesar was a story of great betrayal, oversight, and miscalculation. It was an event that accelerated the downfall of a weakened republic that lasted for only around 17 years afterwards. Furthermore, the event became a very well-known story of drama and betrayal, inspiring countless pieces of art.

References:

1. “The Death of Caesar”, University of Chicago, n.d., https://penelope.uchicago.edu/encyclopaedia_romana/calendar/ides.html

2. “Julius Caesar is Assassinated”, EBSCO, 2023, https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/julius-caesar-assassinated#full-article

3. Christopher Klein, “How Julius Caesar’s Assassination Triggered the Fall of the Roman Republic”, History, 2021, https://www.history.com/articles/julius-caesar-assassination-fall-roman-republic