Ancient history

Assassination of Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar climbed the steps of power in a meteoric rise; the Senate quickly named him "dictator for life". In Antiquity, a dictator was one who received full powers from the Assembly to carry out a specific mission in a given time. But he assumes them for life.

However, Caesar lacks a royal title to pass definitively to posterity. Also, it is whispered behind the scenes that he could be crowned king of Rome just before waging war against the Parthians. Indeed, since 45 BC, he was nearly crowned several times.

Marc-Antoine, who is co-consul with the dictator, thus tries, during the Lupercalia (Roman festival) on February 15, 44 BC, to place the diadem of the Greek kings on Caesar's head; but in front of the boos of the crowd, the latter decides to take it to the temple of Jupiter.

The senators, who fear a tyranny (a tyrant is a man who holds full powers after having obtained them illegitimately), therefore decide to remove Caesar. The rumor of a short plot. The haruspex (diviner) Spurinna predicts, by the sacrifice of an animal, a bad omen and advises Julius Caesar to beware of March 15; his wife, the day before, dreams of his death. The same day, a relative would have given him the list of the members of the conspiracy, but César pays little attention to it.

March 15, 44 BC

Characters

Julius Caesar

Marcus Junius Brutus

Caius Cassius Longinus

Tullius Cimbre

Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus

Procedure

The famous session of the Senate therefore takes place on the day of the Ides, March 15 BC. Marc-Antoine and his men are lured, under a false pretext, outside the hemicycle. Caesar places himself under the statue of Pompey, his lifelong enemy whom he has defeated. Barely installed, he is provoked by the senator Tullius Cimbre who tears off his toga:it is the signal. Caesar receives, at this moment, 23 stab wounds by the senators who came to surround him suddenly. At 24 th stab wound, Caesar collapses not without addressing, in Greek, the one who dealt him the coup de grace:“Kai su teknon” translated by the famous Latin phrase “Tu quoque mi fili” (" You too my son "). The one who has just finished it is none other than Brutus, the son of his mistress Servilia, in whom Caesar placed all his trust. As soon as the misdeed is accomplished, the sixty culprits disappear, leaving the body to bleed to death.

Consequences

Known for its stability and for the respect of its institutions, the Roman world is pierced by this assassination which remains long in the memories. Indeed, Julius Caesar profoundly reformed and modernized the Roman Empire. Also, many instabilities shake the Roman world when the dictator dies. The Civil War of the Liberatores (conspirators) breaks out, and it will be necessary to wait for Octave, the future Augustus, whom Caesar designated as his legitimate successor, to be on the throne, to finally appease the kingdom.