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The Ides of March tale, an epic tragedy - whispers in the Senate halls, omens ignored, and the ultimate betrayal that shook Rome to its core.
Let’s set the scene:
It’s 44 BCE. Julius Caesar, fresh off his latest power move, struts around like he owns Rome (because, well, he kinda does). The Senate is not having it. The man has already been declared dictator for life, and now there are rumors - whispers in the streets - that he’s planning to crown himself King of Rome. A title Rome hates almost as much as they hate paying taxes.
So, the senators, led by Cassius and Brutus (yes, that Brutus, Caesar’s supposed BFF), start plotting. They convince themselves they’re saving the Republic, but let’s be real - some of them are just jealous. They mark March 15th - the Ides of March - as the day Caesar must fall.
The kicker? The omens. Oh, the omens! A soothsayer literally tells Caesar, “Beware the Ides of March.” His wife, Calpurnia, has nightmares of him getting murdered in the Senate. Animals refuse to be sacrificed properly. The universe is practically screaming, “Dude, don’t go!” But does Caesar listen? Of course not.
He waltzes into the Senate, thinking he’s untouchable, and within moments, he's surrounded. Knives flash. Betrayal stings worse than the blades. And as he sees Brutus among his attackers, his last words (at least according to Shakespeare) are the ultimate gut-punch: “Et tu, Brute?” (Even you, Brutus?)
The mighty Caesar falls. The Republic is "saved" - but spoiler alert: Rome doesn’t get better. Instead, it spirals into chaos, paving the way for his heir, Octavian, to become the first true emperor. So, in the end, the conspirators didn’t save the Republic - they just set the stage for an empire.
And that, dear mortals, is why you should always listen to ominous prophecies, your wife’s bad dreams, and avoid any "friendly meetings" with a group of jealous senators.
The whole thing was a glorified group backstabbing session, both literally and politically.
Julius Caesar wasn’t just betrayed by random senators - his closest ally, Marcus Junius Brutus, was in on it. Brutus wasn’t just some guy in the Senate; he was practically like a son to Caesar. Caesar had spared his life after a previous civil war, showered him with political favors, and trusted him deeply. Which makes Brutus turning on him even worse.
The senators, led by Cassius (who had a personal grudge against Caesar), convinced Brutus that if Caesar became king, Rome would crumble. They fed him all this “for the good of the Republic” nonsense, and Brutus, being the idealist he was, bought it.
So, on the Ides of March, 44 BCE, Caesar walks into the Senate, completely unaware that he’s basically walking into an ambush. The plan? Everyone in the conspiracy (around 60 senators) had to stab him so no single person could be blamed. When it starts, Caesar tries to fight back - until he sees Brutus among them. That’s when he stops resisting.
The famous “Et tu, Brute?” line (though maybe not historically accurate) perfectly captures the heartbreak of that moment. He wasn’t just killed - he was betrayed by the very people he thought were his allies.
And the irony? The senators thought they were saving the Republic, but instead, their little murder plot sent Rome into chaos, civil war, and ultimately led to the rise of the first Roman emperor. So, their whole “we must stop tyranny” mission? It just made things worse.
Moral of the story? Maybe, if a bunch of senators suddenly start talking about saving democracy by removing someone… they might just be planning a knife party.
Now let's get to the real meat of the story - what exactly did Caesar do to make the Senate shank him like a Roman soap opera? And how did his heir, Octavian, use all this to become the first emperor? Let’s break it down.
What Did Caesar Do to Get Himself Killed?
He Acted Like a King (Without the Title) – Rome had a deep-seated hatred of kings. The Republic was built on the idea that no one man should hold absolute power. But after winning a brutal civil war against Pompey, Caesar was behaving like a monarch - handpicking officials, wearing a fancy red robe (symbolizing royalty), putting his face on coins (which was a huge no-no in Rome), and taking the title Dictator for Life. This freaked out the Senate, who thought he was about to make himself officially king.
He Humiliated the Senate – The Roman Senate was supposed to be the most powerful governing body, but Caesar treated them like his advisory board. He would ignore their debates, pass laws on his own, and generally make them look useless. They were getting real tired of his “I’m the smartest guy in the room” act.
He Pardoned His Enemies – This might seem like a good thing, but it backfired. Caesar had won a civil war against the Roman elite, and instead of executing the losers (like Sulla had done before him), he pardoned them. Problem? Those same guys - like Brutus and Cassius - hated feeling indebted to him. They wanted to believe they were equals, not recipients of his mercy.
The “Crowning” Incident – The final straw came during the Lupercalia festival in February 44 BCE. Marc Antony, his right-hand man, offered him a crown in front of a massive crowd. Caesar refused it twice, but the whole thing felt staged - like he was testing the waters to see if the people wanted him as king. The Senate saw this and said, “Nope, we gotta kill this guy.”
So How Did Octavian (Later Augustus) Use This to Become the First Emperor?
Caesar’s assassination was supposed to save the Republic, but instead, it caused chaos. Enter Gaius Octavius (Octavian), Caesar’s adopted heir and grandnephew - just 18 years old at the time.
Played the “Justice for Caesar” Card – Octavian positioned himself as the rightful heir and the avenger of Caesar. He rallied Caesar’s supporters and the army, making it clear that those senators who killed him weren’t heroes - they were traitors.
Allied with Marc Antony (Temporarily) – Octavian knew he wasn’t strong enough to rule alone, so he teamed up with Marc Antony and Lepidus in a three-man power alliance called the Second Triumvirate. Together, they went on a bloody purge, hunting down and killing the assassins of Caesar - including Brutus and Cassius.
Double-Crossed Marc Antony – Once the assassins were dead, Octavian and Antony turned on each other. Marc Antony made the mistake of teaming up with Cleopatra in Egypt, which Octavian used as propaganda gold. He painted Antony as a traitor, waging war against him and defeating him at the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE.
Made Himself “First Citizen” Instead of “King” – Octavian was smart—he saw what happened to Caesar. Instead of calling himself a king, he took the title Princeps (First Citizen) and acted like he was just restoring the Republic… while actually holding all the power. The Senate, exhausted from years of war, let it happen. In 27 BCE, they gave him the title Augustus, making him Rome’s first emperor.
So, in the End…
- The senators killed Caesar to save the Republic, but their actions led to its downfall.
- Octavian played the long game, avenging Caesar while subtly taking control.
- By the time the Senate realized they had just handed absolute power to one man… it was too late. The Roman Empire was born.
Moral of the story? If you stab the king, you better have a better plan than “Let’s see what happens.”
- Alice
✒ Pip’s Editorial Note
Before anyone starts sharpening their stylus or yelling “But Shakespeare said,” let’s pause the Senate session.
What Alice delivers here is a dramatic performance retelling of the Ides of March, stitched together from Roman histories, later interpretations, and yes, theatrical tradition. Ancient sources like Suetonius, Plutarch, and Appian do not always agree on motives, dialogue, or even Caesar’s final moments. History, much like Roman politics, was never tidy.
A few clarifications for the record:
- The famous “Et tu, Brute?” comes from later literary tradition, not confirmed Roman record. Caesar may have said nothing at all.
- Brutus’ motivations were likely a blend of ideology, pressure, and personal conflict, not pure villainy or pure virtue.
- The conspiracy was large and messy, driven by fear of monarchy, wounded pride, and genuine concern for republican power.
- Caesar’s assassination did not restore the Republic. It destabilized it beyond repair.
Alice leans into irony, prophecy, and political theater because Rome itself was nothing if not theatrical. This is not a courtroom transcript of March 15, 44 BCE. It is a cautionary tale served hot, with blood on the marble and lessons still echoing.
Read this as tragedy, not trial evidence. The knives were real. The consequences were worse.
- Pip
Editor, Alice’s Mad Tea Party
