- In 44 BCE, on the 15 March, the Ides of March, Julius Caesar was assassinated in Pompey's Stone Theatre in Rome.
- Octavian, his adopted son, then went on to successfully eliminate the conspirators and become the first Roman Emperor.
The Reason for the Assassination
- A group of 60 Senators calling themselves the ‘Liberators’, were led by Marcus Junius Brutus.
- They had plotted to eliminate Caesar, because after he had declared himself ‘Dictator Perpetuo’, they believed he was trying to overthrow the Roman Republic, bypass the Roman Senate and make himself King.
The Assassination
- Julius Caesar was assassinated in Pompey's Stone Theatre in Rome.
- This was where the Roman Senate was temporarily holding its meetings until the new Curia Julia was built.
- Caesar was stabbed 23 times by a group of 60 or more Senators led by Brutus.
After the Assassination
- After the Assassination, the Conspirators were wary of the Mob.
- But Cicero made a brilliant Oration, saving the Roman Republic by pardoning the Conspirators and astutely awarding them Governorships in the Provinces to get them away from Rome.
Queen Cleopatra VII
- In 46 BCE Julius Caesar had invited Cleopatra and their son, to live with him in Rome.
- The one year old Caesarion and Cleopatra lived as Julius Caesar‘s guests in Rome, between 46 BCE and the Assassination of Julius Caesar on 15th March 44 BCE.
- After the Assassination they returned to Egypt.
Mark Anthony
- As Julius Caesar‘s right hand man, Mark Anthony initially feared he would be assassinated next. When it became clear that he was not seen as a threat, his position seemed secure.
- But after the Will was obtained from the Vestal Virgins and read out, it was the 18 year old Octavian who had been been named Julius Caesar‘s Heir. The Conspirators appeared to have successfully achieved Power, and Mark Anthony had been clearly sidelined.
- But the Conspirators made a mistake in permitting Mark Anthony to speak at Caesar’s Public Funeral.
- Dio Cassius stated that Mark Anthony held up the bloodied Robe that Julius Caesar had worn, after he had delivered a stinging attack on the Assassins.
- The Mob became bent on Revenge, and immediately left the Funeral to search out the Houses of the Conspirators, and these were forced to flee Rome.
The Outcome
- To eliminate Caesar’s Assassins, on the 26 November 43 BCE, the Second Triumvirate was created, which was an alliance between Octavian, Mark Anthony and Marcus Lepidus.
- After the Triumvirs had defeated the Conspirators, they fought each other with the result that Octavian emerged the victor.
- He changed his name to Augustus and became the First Roman Emperor.
Pompey’s Theatre