The sources on the assassination and the conspiracy could be best described as imperfect. The members of the conspiracy were all prominent Romans who knew Caesar. It seemed that his position was beyond challenge, but this situation changed on the Ides of March 44 BCE.īy March 44 BCE, members of the Roman elite conspired to remove Caesar from power. This meant that, along with the army under his control, he was granted extraordinary powers. He had been elected by the Senate as dictator initially for five years, but later for life. By this time, Caesar was the most powerful man in Rome. The conflict continued to rage over the Mediterranean for several years.Ĭaesar emerged victoriously and by 44 BC after his decisive victory at the Battle of Mutina. Mark Anthony ruled in Caesar’s name in Rome and Italy. Caesar defeated his enemies at Pharsalus (Greece), but this did not end the war. Pompey the Great defended Rome alongside the Senate. In response, Caesar advanced on Rome to secure his political position and started a civil war between himself and the Roman senate. The Senate and Pompey saw an opportunity to oust Caesar from power and threatened him with criminal prosecution. He then used his legions to raid the people in Germany and Britain.Īfter the death of Crassus, the First Triumvirate broke down. Caesar then embarked on a ten-year campaign to gradually conquered this region. At the time, Gaul covered most of France and Belgium. Caesar lead these legions into Gaul to pacify this region. Under this arrangement, Caesar was able to secure election as consul and to become the commander of several Roman legions. This agreement allowed the three men to secure their political goals and become, in essence, the de-facto government of the Republic. Caesar entered into an informal political arrangement with Crassus and Pompey, known as the First Triumvirate. He was a charismatic leader and became one of the best-known figures on the Roman political scene. Upon the death of Sulla, he returned to Rome and became one of the leaders of the popular party in Rome. Caesar quickly rose through the ranks of the military and distinguished himself. Caesar sided with Marius, but when the war shifted in favor of Sulla, Caesar was forced to flee Rome and join the army to avoid execution. Additionally, the death of his father left him somewhat unprotected.Ī bloody civil war between Marius and Sulla forced Caesar to pick sides. We know little about Caesar's childhood, but Rome was unstable during his teenage years. However, by the time of Caesar’s birth, their fortunes had declined, and they were no longer particularly prominent. The assassination of Julius Caesar ultimately started a civil war that ended with the destruction of the Roman republic.Ĭaesar was born to a patrician Roman family who had once been very influential in the Republic. Finally, some were motivated by basic human emotions - personal vengeance. Second, they tried to prevent him from becoming king and destroying the Roman Republic. Why was Caesar murdered at the hands of his fellow citizens? Caesar was killed for three reasons: First, the conspirators wanted to halt his power growth. On the Ides of March, Caesar was stabbed to death by these men who wanted to preserve the Roman Republic. However, Caesar's actions to marginalize the Republic and seize sole control of Rome angered many Romans, including men he not only knew but considered friends. But he also was quickly dissolving the Roman Republic and creating what would become the Imperial system. During his reign, Caesar greatly expanded the Roman Republic, and his conquests changed Europe's future. He had taken control of Rome not just through his military might but with charisma and political savvy. Caesar had become one of the best-known and prominent figures of the ancient world at this point in his life. Julius Caesar was at the pinnacle of his power when he was killed by an organized group of Roman senators who sought to preserve the Roman Republic and end his reign. 19th-century painting of the conspirators celebrating the death of Caesar
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