The ides of March: Julius Caesar is murdered
Julius Caesar the dictator for life of the Roman Empire is murdered by his own senators at a meeting in a hall next to Pompeys Theatre.The conspiracy against Caesar encompassed as many as sixty noblemen including Caesars own protege Marcus Brutus.Caesar was scheduled to leave Rome to fight in a war on March 18 and had appointed loyal members of his army to rule the Empire in his absence.The Republican senators already chafing at having to abide by Caesars decrees were particularly angry about the prospect of taking orders from Caesars underlings.
Cassius Longinus started the plot against the dictator quickly getting his brother-in-law Marcus Brutus to join.Caesar should have been well aware that many of the senators hated him but he dismissed his security force not long before his assassination.Reportedly Caesar was handed a warning note as he entered the senate meeting that day but did not read it.After he entered the hall Caesar was surrounded by senators holding daggers.
Servilius Casca struck the first blow hitting Caesar in the neck and drawing blood.The other senators all joined in stabbing him repeatedly about the head.Marcus Brutus wounded Caesar in the groin and Caesar is said to have remarked in Greek You too my child In the aftermath of the assassination Antony attempted to carry out Caesars legacy.However Caesars will left Octavian in charge as his adopted son.
Cassius and Brutus tried to rally a Republican army and Brutus even issued coins celebrating the assassination known as the Ides of March.Octavian vowed revenge against the assassins two years later Cassius and Brutus committed suicide after learning that Octavians forces had defeated theirs at the Battle of Philippa in Greece.Antony took his armies east where he hooked up with Caesars old paramour Cleopatra.Octavian and Antony fought for many years until Octavian prevailed.
In 30 B.C.Antony committed suicide.Octavian later known as Augustus ruled the Roman Empire for many more years.
