Matt O’Brien
Mr. Evans
English 10 A Block
1 January 2014
The Assassination of Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar has been remembered by history for many things. He was a gifted orator, an excellent general and tactician, consul and eventually Dictator of Rome. However, Julius Caesar has been remembered not only for the way he lived his life, but also the way in which his life was taken. The assassination of Julius Caesar is one of the most infamous events not only in the history of Rome, but also that of mankind itself. He quickly rose to power in the republic, gaining both many loyal supporters and enemies. As a result of his death, the republic fell apart, eventually becoming an imperial monarchy.
As Caesar rose up the ranks in Roman society, he began to acquire many enemies, as well as vast amounts of loyal supporters. Pompey the Great was perhaps his greatest enemy. In 49 BC, Caesar led his army across the Rubicon River into northern Italy, thus beginning a civil war in the Roman republic. One thing led to another, Pompey was killed and his severed head was given to Caesar in Egypt. Eventually, all those loyal to Pompey were silenced and in 47 BC, Julius Caesar gave himself the title of “Dictator for Life”. This act angered many Roman senators, adding many more names to the list of men who would want Caesar dead.
Julius Caesar was a man of the people. In other words, his words appealed more to the common man living in the poorer sections of Rome than a more affluent man living in the Roman Forum. In fact, when Caesar was to be crowned emperor, he pushed the crown away from his head, to the overwhelming pleasure of the citizens onlooking the ceremony. Even though he was loved by the people of Rome, nothing could stop him from ultimately meeting his tragic fate.
The assassination of Julius Caesar was planned by the senators of Rome who resented the amount of power he held. Up to 60 conspirators may have been involved in the killing. The senators never met in public, instead conspiring in each other’s homes. Many plans were thrown around, a few of them being killing him during the elections as he crossed a bridge, and killing him when he went on a walk through his favorite area, the “Sacred Way”. The conspirators eventually decided on carrying out the assassination in the Theatre of Pompey, ironically a building built and named in honor of Caesar's greatest enemy, Pompey the Great. On the Ides of March, (March 15th) the senate was to meet in the theatre. The previous night, Julius’ wife, Calpurnia, had a horrible dream of his being killed the next day.
On the day of the assassination, Caesar seriously considered not attending the session but his friend and protégé Marcus Brutus came to his house and convinced him to attend the session as they had been waiting for him since the morning and since he called the meeting, he should attend. Eventually, Caesar gave in and made his way with his confidant Mark Antony from his house in the Forum to Pompey’s theatre where he was to meet his doom. When the pair arrived at the theatre, Antony wasn’t allowed to enter and was distracted by a few conspirators. Caesar then proceeded to enter the meetingplace and took his place. Tillius Cimber, a senator whose brother had been exiled then approached Caesar to plead for the pardoning of his brother.
According to plan, Caesar denied the senator and he proceeded to grab the Dictator, thus giving the signal for the conspirators (who had all concealed daggers under their togas, attacked Caesar. Even Julius’ friend, Marcus Brutus was in on it. In fact, he was one of the conspirators in charge. According to legend, Caesar supposedly said, “Et tu, Brute?” Latin for, “and you,Brutus?” the senators pounced on the beloved leader, stabbing him a total of 23 times. After the deed was done, the senators left the fresh body of the slain leader on the floor of the theatre. After Julius Caesar’s assassination, the people of Rome mourned their beloved leader’s death and even eventually named him a god. But after the time of Caesar, the Roman Republic fell apart due to Caesar Augustus, the first emperor of the Roman Empire, the Roman Republic was no more. In the end, the assassination of Julius Caesar certainly had a profound effect on the course of Rome.
Sources Cited:
"All About Shakespeare's "Et, Tu, Brute"" All About Shakespeare's "Et, Tu, Brute"N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
"Archaeology News from Past Horizons." Archaeology News from Past Horizons RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
"The Assassination of Julius Caesar, 44 BC." The Assassination of Julius Caesar, 44 BC. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
"Death of Caesar." Death of Caesar. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
"The Death of Caesar." Julius Caesar: His Death. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
"The Ides of March: Julius Caesar Is Murdered." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
"Ides of March Marked Murder of Julius Caesar." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
"Julius Caesar Crosses the Rubicon, 49 BC." Julius Caesar Crosses the Rubicon, 49 BC. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
"Julius Caesar Death." Julius Caesar Death. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
"Julius Caesar: Historical Background." Julius Caesar: Historical Background. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
"Julius Caesar of the The Roman Empire." YouTube. YouTube, 18 Nov. 2013. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
"Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire - Episode 3: Julius Caesar (Documentary)."YouTube. YouTube, 10 Sept. 2013. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
Mr. Evans
English 10 A Block
1 January 2014
The Assassination of Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar has been remembered by history for many things. He was a gifted orator, an excellent general and tactician, consul and eventually Dictator of Rome. However, Julius Caesar has been remembered not only for the way he lived his life, but also the way in which his life was taken. The assassination of Julius Caesar is one of the most infamous events not only in the history of Rome, but also that of mankind itself. He quickly rose to power in the republic, gaining both many loyal supporters and enemies. As a result of his death, the republic fell apart, eventually becoming an imperial monarchy.
As Caesar rose up the ranks in Roman society, he began to acquire many enemies, as well as vast amounts of loyal supporters. Pompey the Great was perhaps his greatest enemy. In 49 BC, Caesar led his army across the Rubicon River into northern Italy, thus beginning a civil war in the Roman republic. One thing led to another, Pompey was killed and his severed head was given to Caesar in Egypt. Eventually, all those loyal to Pompey were silenced and in 47 BC, Julius Caesar gave himself the title of “Dictator for Life”. This act angered many Roman senators, adding many more names to the list of men who would want Caesar dead.
Julius Caesar was a man of the people. In other words, his words appealed more to the common man living in the poorer sections of Rome than a more affluent man living in the Roman Forum. In fact, when Caesar was to be crowned emperor, he pushed the crown away from his head, to the overwhelming pleasure of the citizens onlooking the ceremony. Even though he was loved by the people of Rome, nothing could stop him from ultimately meeting his tragic fate.
The assassination of Julius Caesar was planned by the senators of Rome who resented the amount of power he held. Up to 60 conspirators may have been involved in the killing. The senators never met in public, instead conspiring in each other’s homes. Many plans were thrown around, a few of them being killing him during the elections as he crossed a bridge, and killing him when he went on a walk through his favorite area, the “Sacred Way”. The conspirators eventually decided on carrying out the assassination in the Theatre of Pompey, ironically a building built and named in honor of Caesar's greatest enemy, Pompey the Great. On the Ides of March, (March 15th) the senate was to meet in the theatre. The previous night, Julius’ wife, Calpurnia, had a horrible dream of his being killed the next day.
On the day of the assassination, Caesar seriously considered not attending the session but his friend and protégé Marcus Brutus came to his house and convinced him to attend the session as they had been waiting for him since the morning and since he called the meeting, he should attend. Eventually, Caesar gave in and made his way with his confidant Mark Antony from his house in the Forum to Pompey’s theatre where he was to meet his doom. When the pair arrived at the theatre, Antony wasn’t allowed to enter and was distracted by a few conspirators. Caesar then proceeded to enter the meetingplace and took his place. Tillius Cimber, a senator whose brother had been exiled then approached Caesar to plead for the pardoning of his brother.
According to plan, Caesar denied the senator and he proceeded to grab the Dictator, thus giving the signal for the conspirators (who had all concealed daggers under their togas, attacked Caesar. Even Julius’ friend, Marcus Brutus was in on it. In fact, he was one of the conspirators in charge. According to legend, Caesar supposedly said, “Et tu, Brute?” Latin for, “and you,Brutus?” the senators pounced on the beloved leader, stabbing him a total of 23 times. After the deed was done, the senators left the fresh body of the slain leader on the floor of the theatre. After Julius Caesar’s assassination, the people of Rome mourned their beloved leader’s death and even eventually named him a god. But after the time of Caesar, the Roman Republic fell apart due to Caesar Augustus, the first emperor of the Roman Empire, the Roman Republic was no more. In the end, the assassination of Julius Caesar certainly had a profound effect on the course of Rome.
Sources Cited:
"All About Shakespeare's "Et, Tu, Brute"" All About Shakespeare's "Et, Tu, Brute"N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
"Archaeology News from Past Horizons." Archaeology News from Past Horizons RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
"The Assassination of Julius Caesar, 44 BC." The Assassination of Julius Caesar, 44 BC. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
"Death of Caesar." Death of Caesar. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
"The Death of Caesar." Julius Caesar: His Death. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
"The Ides of March: Julius Caesar Is Murdered." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
"Ides of March Marked Murder of Julius Caesar." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
"Julius Caesar Crosses the Rubicon, 49 BC." Julius Caesar Crosses the Rubicon, 49 BC. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
"Julius Caesar Death." Julius Caesar Death. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
"Julius Caesar: Historical Background." Julius Caesar: Historical Background. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
"Julius Caesar of the The Roman Empire." YouTube. YouTube, 18 Nov. 2013. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.
"Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire - Episode 3: Julius Caesar (Documentary)."YouTube. YouTube, 10 Sept. 2013. Web. 01 Jan. 2014.