The Assassination of Julius Caesar on March 15, 44 BC

The Assassination of Julius Caesar on March 15, 44 BC
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June 12, 2023
Julius Caesar's assassination on the Ides of March 44 BC remains one of the most significant events in Roman history. As a result of political tensions, personal grievances, and fears of an impending monarchy, a conspiracy emerged among the Roman senators leading to Caesar's brutal murder in the Senate itself. Accordingly, this paper will argue that the assassination of Julius Caesar was primarily fueled by political jealousy and fear of his increasing power and that this event significantly destabilized the Roman Republic, setting the stage for the transition to the Roman Empire.
Contextualizing Caesar's Rise to Power
Julius Caesar is one of the most famous figures, even in modern-day culture and history. Gaius Julius Caesar was an extraordinary figure, rising from relative obscurity to become one of Rome's most powerful rulers. His political ascent began with a series of critical alliances and military victories. Together with Pompey the Great and Marcus Licinius Crassus, Caesar formed the First Triumvirate, an informal political alliance that enabled him to secure the position of consul. His successful campaigns in Gaul further bolstered his standing, adding substantial wealth and military prestige to his name.
As a ruler, Caesar initiated a series of comprehensive reforms that touched virtually every aspect of Roman society. He restructured the Roman calendar, created a municipal police force, reformed the tax system, and implemented public work programs. These actions endeared him to the Roman populace but simultaneously aroused the apprehensions of the Senate and the Roman elite.
The Senate and Roman elite viewed Caesar's consolidation of power with mounting apprehension. Particularly concerning were his efforts to undermine the Republican principles of shared power. His appointment as "dictator perpetuo" or dictator in perpetuity was a particularly stark indicator of his intentions, and this act likely solidified the resolve of those who would eventually conspire against him. Fearful of a return to the era of Tarquin kings, the Roman Senate and elite saw Caesar's assassination as a desperate bid to preserve the Republic's democratic ideals.
In this light, Caesar's rise to power and the fears it incited within the Roman aristocracy laid the foundation for the seismic event unfolding on the Ides of March.
The Conspiracy and Assassination
The conspiracy against Julius Caesar, a complex intertwining of fear, resentment, and ambition among several Roman senators, reveals the simmering tensions within the Republic. The key conspirators were Brutus, Cassius, and a group of senators who came to be known as the "Liberators" (Tranquillus & Graves, 1962). Each had their motivations, yet their belief united them in defending the Republic from the perceived threat of Caesar's ambition.
Accordingly, Brutus was a figure of particular significance within the conspiracy due to his ancestral connections. A descendant of Lucius Junius Brutus, the revered founder of the Roman Republic who had expelled the last Roman king, many perceived Brutus as the embodiment of Republican ideals (Plutarch, 1900). His involvement lent the conspiracy an air of legitimacy, further underscoring the high stakes at play.
It must also be noted that the planning and execution of the assassination were marked by meticulous detail, reflective of the gravity of the act. As the Senate house was undergoing repairs, the conspirators chose a temporary structure adjacent to the Theatre of Pompey for the Senate meeting on the Ides of March (Appian, 2015). The symbolism of this choice was unmistakable, as Pompey had been both an ally and adversary of Caesar, hinting at the complexities of Roman political alliances.
Thus, the conspirators arrived at the Senate on the fateful day with their daggers concealed. Despite receiving multiple warnings, including a note handed to him on his way to the Senate and various ill omens (Tranquillus & Graves, 1962), Caesar decide...