Hotelrome.net Blog : A guide to news and events in Rome

Imagine for a second of living in Roman Empire, more or less 2000 years ago…

One day you hear: Ceasar is dead!!! Ceasar is dead!!! Ceasar is dead!!! What a scoop would it be for today’s journalists…

It is the year 44 B. C, when the Dictator was assassinated in the very senate after declaring him self dictator for life (one month before, so no that long).

How does he find this tragic end? Let’s take a look at the situation : 

In January of 49 BC, He led his army across the Rubicon River in Northern Italy and turns the Roman Republic into civil war. Caesar’s rival, Pompey, runaway to Greece seeing things become complicated. In only three months the old Julius controlled the entire Italian peninsula and in Spain had defeated the legions of Mr. Pompey. Take that.

Julius was not happy yet, so now pursued Pompey to Greece. Caesar crushed the forces of his enemy so Pompey escaped to Egypt . Finally, following Pompey to Egypt and defeated him for the last time. Julius established the beautiful and famous Cleopatra as his delegated ruler of Egypt.

He defeated other rivals in North Africa in 47 BC and came back to Rome with his authority ‘‘firmly established’’.

Sounds like a happy end until here. But happy for who?

In order to consolidate his power in February 44 BC, he declared himself dictator for life. This act, turned many in the Senate against him. Sixty members of the Senate concluded that the only solution to the problem was …to kill Caesar.

So how to do it? You cannot just call Uma Thurman with her yellow suit and sword, she was not born yet. Anyway we are sure of the fact that Mr. Tarantino could have given interesting ideas.

About ideas Nicolaus of Damascus, a friend of Herod the Great (remember the bible?) gathered some information asking here and there, here are some ‘’proposals’’ at that time:

1) ‘’Some suggested that they should make the attempt as he was going along the Sacred Way, which was one of his favorite walks ‘’.

2) ‘’Another idea was for it to be done at the elections during which he bad to cross a bridge to appoint the magistrates in the Campus Martius; they should draw lots for some to push him from the bridge and for others to run up and kill him.’’

3) ‘’A third plan was to wait for a coming gladiatorial show. The advantage of that would be that, because of the show, no suspicion would be aroused if arms were seen prepared for the attempt.’’

4) ‘’Killing him while he sat in the Senate, where he would be by himself since non-Senators would not be admitted, and where the many conspirators could hide their daggers beneath their togas.’’ Smashing! Someone said and that won the major opinion.

When they saw him entering, the senate rose in respect. Next to him Tillius Cimber, approached under the pretext of a request for his exiled brother and grasped his mantel. This was the beginning, those who were part in the plan were near Julius. Suddenly, all unsheathed their daggers. Caesar was stabbed by: First Servilius Casca, his brother, Cassius, Decimus Brutus, Minucius, Cassius Longinus missed and hurt Marcus Brutus (it happens).

So the lesson of the day is ‘’Think twice before become a dictator for life’’ or ‘’Power has its drawbacks’’. Stay cool. See you around.

Your friend Big- mouth-knows-all-about-it,