Save the Republic

Part 8

But many senators thought Caesar acted as if he did not have to obey the law. They thought he treated them as servants.  They saw his behavior as proud and insulting.

Many began to think of him as an enemy.

Senators and other Roman citizens whispered among themselves that Caesar intended to make himself king.

If he did, his family line would rule the Roman world even after his death, and the Senate would not be able to choose the next leader.

One of Caesar’s most loyal officers (Marc Anthony) wanted to crown him king, but Caesar had declined.

Sixty angry senators met secretly. They planned how they would assassinate Caesar- murder him for political reasons. One leader of the group was Brutus, a friend of Caesar.

It was early in the year 44 B.C . “Beware the ides of March,” the fortuneteller whispered in Julius Caesar's ear. "I have seen many warnings of danger in your future."

But Caesar, confident of his power, simply went on about his business. He even refused to have bodyguards. He is said to have said, "It is better to suffer death once, than always to live in fear of it."

However, March 15, which in the Roman calendar is the "ides" of March, turned out to be the day of Caesar's death! As Caesar walked confidently into the senate that day, a  group of men gathered around him as if to pay their respects.

One of them took hold of  Caesar's robe and said, "Friends, what are you waiting for?” That was the signal to attack. Several men drew daggers from their robes and began stabbing Caesar.  He tried to defend himself, but then he recognized one of the men.

Rome B

It was Brutus, a man Caesar thought was his friend. "Et tu, Brute?" ("You too, Brutus?") Caesar asked.

Realizing that even  his friend had turned against him, he stopped resisting. Caesar fell to the floor and died. He had been stabbed 23 times.

Brutus jumped up, waving his bloody knife. He announced that he and his men had saved the Roman Republic by killing Caesar.