Julius Caesar, The Selfish Dictator

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Julius Caesar (July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman general, statesman, Consul, and author of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the events that led to the demise of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire. On March 15 44 B.C.E, the Roman dictator Julius Caesar was murdered. There are multiple accounts of this incident, while all accounts came after the death of Caesar, the writing on the incident portray Julius Caesar to have been a selfish dictator. The death of Caesar, written by Caesar's biographer, Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus (c.70-c.135), is believed to be the most famous and accurate account of the death of Julius Caesar. In this account, it was said 3 unmistakable signs foretold Caesar’s approaching murder to him. The first sign came when settlers were demolishing some tombs at the colony of Capua. The discovery of a tomb, which was said to be Capys, the founder of Capua, a bronze tablet inscribed with Greek words and characters was found. It read, Whenever the bones of Capys shall be discovered, it will come to pass that a descendant of his shall be slain at the hands of his kindred, and presently avenged at heavy cost to Italy. And let no one think this tale a myth or a lie, for it is vouched for by Cornelius Balbus, an intimate friend of Caesar. the second sign came when Spurinna warned him to beware of danger, which would come not later than the ides of March. The third sign came when a little bird called the king-bird flew into the Hall of Pompey with a sprig of laurel, pursued by others of various kinds from the grove hard by, which tore it to pieces in the hall. Caesar himself dreamed of being in the clouds and his wife Calpurnia thought that the pediment of their house [had] fel... ... middle of paper ... ...tion of the r republic and opened the way for the return of monarchy. Bibliography Hunt, Lynn and Thomas R. Martin, Barbara H. Rosenwein and Bonnie G. Smith. “ The Greek golden age,” in the making of the west volume 1 to 1750 2012, edited by Denise B. Wydra, 75-108. Boston: Beford/St. Martin’s, 2012. "Julius Caesar". Roman-colosseum.info. (Retrieved 26 January 2014). Plutarch. "The Assassination of Julius Caesar, from Marcus Brutus (excerpts)." Translated by John Dryden. Reproduced by Internet Ancient History Sourcebook. August 2000. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/plutarch-caesar.asp (accessed 26 January 2014). Tranquillus, Gaius Suetonius. Lives of the 12 Caesars. Translated by Joseph Gavorse. Reproduced by Livius: Articles on Ancient History. http://www.livius.org/caa-can/caesar/caesar_t09.html (Retrieved 26 January 2014).

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