The Assassination Of Julius Caesar Explained

Posted by Almeda Bohannan on Sunday, May 5, 2024

But Brutus was just one of many who took exception to Julius Caesar's ongoing accrual of power. "there were the usual, old enemies of Caesar – friends and supporters of Pompey who sought both high office and profit. Next, there were those who many believed were friends of Caesar, people who, while being rewarded for their loyalty, disliked many of his policies," argues the World History Encyclopedia. "And lastly, there were the idealists – those who respected the Republic and its ancient traditions. Individually, their reasons varied, but together, they believed the salvation of the Republic depended on the death of Caesar."

Brutus and other former allies of Caesar began to meet in secret, to plot the dictator's downfall. Among them was Brutus' cousin, Decimus, who, reports Historia Civilis, had been a long-time Caesar loyalist, having served under him for five years in the conquest of Gaul and fought to contain uprisings against Caesar during the civil war. Another, Gaius Cassius Longinus, had previously fought against Caesar on the side of Crassus, and, later, Pompey, but had received a full pardon from Caesar, who was keen to exploit the talented soldier's military prowess, per the same source.

Beginning with the agreement of these three men that Caesar must be killed, the conspiracy grew, with the number of would-be assassins — who adopted the name "The Liberatores," — reaching an unwieldy total of 60.

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