Julius Caesar was murdered by his own co-workers and the Senate in 44 BC. He said he wanted what was best and fair for the Roman Republic, however he managed to instead absorb total power; he was self-centered, and this ultimately lead to his strategized death. When Caesar died, the republic fell and Rome became an empire with one supreme leader. All in all, Julius Caesar brought death upon himself and earned this unfortunate punishment.
Julius Caesar glued the broken pieces of the Roman Republic together by addressing and resolving economic, social, and legislative issues. He managed to decrease debt, provide land for veterans who wished to reside in Rome, and expanded occupation opportunities (Boatwright et al., 257-261). According to Michael Parenti, author of The Assassination of Julius Caesar, Caesar was widely know as the “democratic king” for his success in politics. He made it a priority to equalize the people of Rome, both the rich and the poor, and Caesar desired a healthy balance between the two classes without violence or intolerable treatment (Parenti, 164). In addition, Caesar
…show more content…
provided medical practitioners for his citizens wellbeing, supported education and the arts, and posted daily updates regarding government criteria (Parenti, 153-154; 160). Julius Caesar’s actions led to the downfall of Rome’s Republic, which had been a successful form of government for over 450 years. During his time as dictator, he had no respect for the Roman Republic, calling it, “a mere name without substance” (Tingay, 45). He believed dictatorship was a much better and more efficient way of ruling, once calling Sulla a “ignoramus” for giving up his dictatorship (Tingay, 45). Caesar even went as far as not standing to receive the Senate when they entered the room, as if he were dealing with lower class men, saying that the honours bestowed on him excused him from standing for anyone. This angered not only the Senate, but the entire State (Plutarch, 583). According to Michael Parenti, Julius Caesar was only given honours out of “bandwagon trepidation” rather than “genuine admiration” (163). Cary and Scullard point out that Caesar started to disregard long-upheld traditions, which included changing the name of the month of Quintilis, to what it is today, July (280). He even had his statues put up in the temple of Quirinus, which was a temple to the founder of Rome, Romulus (Cary and Scullard, 280). Cary and Scullard also mention that he increased the amount of officers in the Senate to match his needs and made no arrangements for the elections of new officials; Caesar started assigning them himself (280). Julius Caesar completely destroyed the Republican way of governing and shattered the legendary Roman Republic. Julius Caesar was deemed a tyrant by the conspirators, thus making Caesar’s death justified by tyrannicide, for the Romans despised any form of tyrant or king since Lucius Junius Brutus overthrew Lucius Tarquinius Superbus and founded the Republic in 509 BC.
The Greeks and Romans despised tyrants, and according to R. E. Smith, if a man denied citizens “the exercise of freedom according to established law”, he could be killed under the pretense of tyrannicide. Plato once wrote that life under a tyrant equaled enslavement. Brutus, a main conspirator, agreed and said that it was “better to rule nobody than to be enslaved to somebody” (Sedley, David, 49). A ruler became a tyrant once he put himself above the laws of the state, which Caesar did when he took special powers. The Senate granted Caesar these rights, for they were too afraid to oppose him (Sedley, David,
60-61). It’s true that Caesar put thought and effort into solving social brawls, economic disasters, and political disagreements by closing the gap between classes. However, he failed to recognize what was the best form of governing. He forced the Senate to grant him absurd honors and powers, thus giving him more control; this turned him from a consul to a tyrant who was feared by all. He lacked respect towards the Republic by refusing to stand when the Senate would enter a meeting; this was dehumanizing and unfair. He chose instead, to benefit his authority, dictatorship: a position completely against Roman ideals. Ultimately, Caesar was like Wisteria, beautiful and eye catching, but toxic to the Roman Empire.
During the Republic, the people of Rome had a major disinclination towards any sort of Royalty, which is why when Caesar attempted to lead undemocratically indefinitely, he disrupted one of the core stances that romans shared communally. Caesar over indulged in power when he retitled himself as ‘dictator in perpetuo’. “And as Caesar was coming down from Alba into the city they ventured to hail him as king. But at this the people were confounded, and Caesar, disturbed in mind, said that his name was not King, but Caesar, and seeing that his words produced an universal silence, he passed on with no very cheerful or contented looks…..But the most open and deadly hatred towards him was produced by his passion for the royal power.” Caesars egotism and self-importance made him uncherished by members of the senate. “Everybody knew that Caesar's ego would never allow him to play second fiddle to another senator, and it was equally well-known that another famous military leader, Pompey the Great, had similar ambitions. In January 49, more or less at...
Julius Caesar elected himself as the dictator of Rome. He became a favorite to many of the people of the lower classes. Unlike many leaders, Caesar valued the poor. Most people agreed with his decisions, but some of the higher classes’ did not. On March 15 44 BCE, now called the Ides of March, a few of Caesars’ closest peers decided to murder Caesar. Marcus Brutus killed Julius Caesar, on March 15.
Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) was one of the most outstanding leaders in history. He was the first ruler of the Romano-Hellenic civilization and achieved his goals with great success throughout his life of 56 years. He was assassinated by the conspirators, who accused him for practicing tyranny. This essay will discuss whether it was right for the conspirators to murder Caesar and what its consequences were.
Julius Caesar was unquestionable a cunning Politian as portrayed within historical documents, even though the events were documented after the accounts of his rule materialized there are still numerous theories about his political ability’s and how he was viewed by the people he governed. This paper is intended to present the reader clear vision on how Julius Caesar was viewed during his dictatorship of Rome. Was Julius Caesar a selfish dictator or model politician? There will be five diverse source accounts of the events which will be examined for similarities and differences based on the historical evidences.
Julius Caesar is the leader of Rome and is seeking to become king in a matter of time. Though he is a good military strategist, he lacks knowledge in running government and is too greedy to have any concern for the peasants when he is alive. Caesar is all about conquering and power and he is afraid of nothing. Before he is murdered, he says “The things that threatened me ne’er looked but on my back. When they shall see the face of Caesar, they are vanished” (II, ii, 575). Th...
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.
For thousands of years people have been talking about the great powerful Caesar. He is one of the greatest known dictators known to people today mostly because of all of the things he was able to accomplish during his rein as emperor. After reading primary sources about Caesar, it has given me a better understanding of what other people thought of him during this time period. It’s safe to say that Caesar was obsessed with power and respect from other people that would explain his thirst for war and land, which is one of his greatest strengths and helped in making Rome a great empire.
Gaius Julius Caesar, born 100 B.C.E. in Rome to the impoverished patrician Julian Clan, knew controversy at an early age. Nephew to Populare Gaius Marius, he was earmarked by the Optimate dictator Sulla for prosciption after his refusal to divorce his Populare wife, Cinna. Fleeing Rome, and not returning until after Sulla’s resignation in 78 B.C.E, upon his return he gained a position as a pontificate, an important Roman priesthood. Slowly but surely throughout his lifetime he worked his way up the political ladder, eventually becoming Consul, and finally Dictator Perpeteus – Dictator for life. One of the most influential political and military leaders of all time, Caesar was also a highly intelligent man and an exceptional orator. However, acquiring this absolute power was no mean feat, and Caesar had well equipped himself through previous expeditions with all the resources necessary to gain power in Ancient Rome.
Julius Caesar emerged. He was able commander who led many conquests for Rome. In 59 B.C. Caesar set out for a new conquest. After nine years of constant fighting, he finally conquered Gaul. Pompey grew jealous of his achievement and had the senate order him to disband his forces and return to Rome. Caesar secretly crossed the Rubicon and killed Pompey then entered Rome. After crushing many rebellions, Caesar forced the senate to make him a dictator. Caesar launched many reforms such as public work programs and giving land to the poor. According to legend those in the senate murdered Caesar on March 15. Caesar's Grandnephew, Octavian, and Marc Anthony joined forces to capture his killers. However bitter feuds grew it soon became a battle for power.
September 9th, 2007: Inmate Jerry Martin, a 37 year old white male steals a truck from a Huntsville parking lot. He drives it into a female correctional officer’s horse, ultimately ending in her falling to her death. An innocent woman, killed because of a man’s poor decision. Homicide is a felony widely regarded as one of, if not the, worst offences a human can commit. The act of ending a man or woman’s life, whether intentional, or unintentional, is one that can very rarely be justifiable. That being said, however, I do believe there are some instances where homicide can be socially accepted.
Caesar was born into a traditional influential and respected family. It is this influence that he used to make his way to the top of the Roman leadership. His use in warfare and military conquests are legendary although he had at first concentrated in pursuing political actions. He won the first elections in his political career at the early forties. He was el...
Julius Caesar was a strong leader of the Romans who changed the course of the history for the Roman world decisively and irreversibly. With his courage and strength, he created a strong empire and guided the empire for almost 20 years. His life was short, but had many adventures. I will tell of some of this man’s remarkable life. He did many things, therefore, I will only discuss a few. His name, part of his reign, one of his greatest battles, and his death will be told.
The assassination of Julius Caesar was due to his increased power and the senate’s fear of losing political relevance. They were losing their freedoms and thought the only way to resolve this problem was to kill Caesar. Killing Caesar never really did anything to help make the government a democracy like the senate had wanted. Marcus Brutus and Cassius ended up leaving Rome, so their plot did not do anything to help them. Caesar was the leader of Rome, the top of the Roman Empire. The people he thought he could trust most, his so-called friends, took him to the bottom of the Roman Empire, to his grave.
Finally his sudden death was the result of various personal factors that insulted the senators and created hate between Caesar and them, believing his death was expected. His death then led to a domino effect, which ends in the eventual collapse of the Roman Empire. Caesar was assassinated by his own Senate. Julius Caesar had many men conspiring against him with a plot to assassinate him. Among the 60 men plotting to murder him, many were senators, which included Marcus Junius Brutus, Decimus Brutus Albinus and Gaius Cassius Longinus. Brutus believed the death of Caesar would bring the return of the old Roman spirit unfortunately, the city was in shock, and people became increasingly more aggressive, because Caesar was popular with the people of Rome. Unfortunately, peace was impossible and the conspirators fled to
One source states, “The conspirators kill Caesar because of his egotism: as republicans, they fear he will become a dictator”(“Shakespeare ’s World of Death”p. 76). Brutus, Cassius, Casca, Cimber, Decius, Metallus, Lagarious, and many others were involved in the stabbing. His death is so tragic because he never would have thought that his best friends would betray him.