![]() Caesar's long-standing opponent Cato the Younger 'was said to have killed himself to escape it.' (Mary Beard, SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome, London: Profile Books (2015) p.295. to opponents could be seen as a reflection of it: to show mercy, one had to be in a position to have power over someone else: one had to be a king. Even his admirable trait of granting clemency Showing forgiveness and mercy in the act of judging punishment. and his statue was placed in all existing temples. He could wear triumphal dress and the laurel wreath whenever he liked He found the wreath useful for disguising his bald spot. placed on one of his statues was removed. His behaviour suggested it: he installed his friends in positions of power, started wearing the high red boots traditionally worn by Italian kings, and reacted with fury when a diadem A jewelled crown or headband worn as a symbol of sovereignty. Opponents worried he was grasping for something more than dictatorship: that he wanted to restore the monarchy, with himself at the head. But by 44 BCE, the unusual step was taken of proclaiming Caesar 'dictator in perpetuity'. The position of dictator in Rome was legal and, as Sulla had shown, not particularly unusual in times of emergency. We don't know what Caesar's eventual political plans were, nor where he placed himself within them. But Sulla, despite providing Caesar with an example to follow, had stepped down and retired. had seen many 'great men', hungry for power and fame, threaten something approaching monarchy The king/queen and royal family of a country, or a form of government with a king/queen at the head., and even within Caesar's lifetime Sulla had marched on Rome, created war and havoc and been named dictator A ruler with total power over a country. It covers a period when the foundations of the Republic became more shaky, with 'great men' achieving dominance and often ignoring the laws and traditions of the Senate. The Late Republic A time in ancient Rome lasting from about 150BCE until the assumption of power by Octavian in 30BCE. To be accused of wanting to be a king was one of the worst insults imaginable. Rome didn't like kings and ever since Lucius Tarquinius Superbus was overthrown in 509 BCE, it had prided itself on its liberty. Reasons for the assassination of Julius Caesar But ironically, it was the assassination of Julius Caesar that opened the way for Octavian, Caesar's adopted son, to establish an empire. ![]() It was rumoured he wanted to be king and his very existence could ruin the Republic. Julius Caesar, general and politician of the people, had risen too far. On the Ides of March 44 BCE, one of the most famous men in history was assassinated. Lucius Tarquinius Superbus - last king of Rome, who was overthrown in 509 BCE.Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix - optimas Singular of optimates, a member of the traditionalist, conservative wing of the Senate in the Late Republic.Marcus Rubrius Ruga - senator and assassin of Caesar.Octavian - born Gaius Octavius, Octavian was adopted by Caesar in his will, and later became Augustus, the first emperor of Rome. ![]() Gaius Cassius Longinus - senator, brother-in-law of Marcus Brutus, and assassin of Caesar.Marcus Aemilius Lepidus - Caesar's Master of Horse and later a triumvir.He may - or may not - have been involved in the plot against Caesar. Marcus Tullius Cicero - Roman orator, lawyer, writer and politician.A popularis (plural populares) was a Roman politician in the Late Republic who derived power and support from the Roman masses., politician and general, who some feared wanted to be king. Gaius Julius Caesar - famous Roman popularis Latin for 'favouring the people'.Marcus Junius Brutus - descendant of Lucius Junius Brutus (who overthrew Tarquinius) and assassin of Caesar.Lucius Minucius Basilus - Roman military commander and senator, and assassin of Caesar. ![]() Marcus Antonius - commonly known as Mark Antony, was a Roman general and politician, supporter of Julius Caesar, and later a triumvir A member of a triumvirate.His death led to 13 years of civil war and the establishment of the Roman Empire.The assassins were worried Caesar wanted to become king.His assassins were a number of senators who thought of themselves as 'Liberators'.of March, 15 March 44 BCE 'Before common era', the non-religious way of saying 'BC' (which means 'before Christ'). Julius Caesar was murdered on the Ides In the Roman calendar, a day falling roughly in the middle of the month.Key facts about the assassination of Julius Caesar ![]()
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