Denise Sparks
Professor Dr. Kelly Jernigan
History 121
24 March 2017
The Assassination of Julius Caesar The first article in the chosen reading is entitled “The Assassination of Julius Caesar, 44 B.C.”. Primarily it took on the position that Caesar was a selfish dictator. The exception to that in this article was the discussion about how Caesar had Cleopatra put into power to rule Egypt. The prime example of the view concerning Caesar being a selfish dictator comes from the discussion of his planned assignation. The paragraph from eyewitness history.com states, “Caesar continued to consolidate his power and in February 44 BC, he declared himself dictator for life. This act, along with his continual effort to adorn himself with the
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As this is a detailed account from Marcus Brutus, it describes the events leading up to and the eventual assassination of Julius Caesar. The disdain is quite evident throughout the article. The most poignant quote from the article acquired from Sourcebooks.fordham.edu states, “Caesar does not hinder me, nor will he hinder me, from doing according to the laws.” This statement is in keeping with the entirety of the article. These portrayals from required articles take a stance that is different than our textbooks. The stance our textbook takes is much more suited to Caesar being not only a great politician but, leader. It goes on to discuss his many successful endeavors, the opinions of his troops, and the vast empire he had acquired. The descriptive nature of the text uses such words as “awed” and “boldness” when describing his leadership qualities and, opinions of his troops. This is displayed in our text by, “Caesar won his soldiers’ loyalty with victories and plunder I Gaul, which he added to the Roman provinces, and he awed his troops with his boldness by crossing the channel to campaign in Britain.” (Hunt, Martin, Rosenwein, Smith 164). Another example of the views of his troops is stated as, “Caesar led his army against Rome. As he crossed Rubicon River, the official northern boundary of Italy, in early 49 B.C.E., he uttered the famous words signaling that there was now no turning back: “Let’s roll the dice.” His
Brutus’s motivations behind the death of Caesar is clearly evident in his speech after the assassination. Throughout his speech, Brutus relies on reason and logical rationale and syllogisms to explain the reasons behind the assassination “If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free man? /as he was ambitious, I slew him”. These strong and emotive words demonstrate Brutus strong love for Rome. Thus it can be said that, although Shakespeare presents various perceptions towards Julius Caesar, the composer’s bias is not negated.
In the determination of whether Julius Caesar was an intelligent, political hero or an egocentric, dictating villain, it is important to look at all of the facts. Born in 100 B.C.E. and assassinated in 44 B.C.E., Julius Caesar was legendary. He along Pompey, and Crassus created the first unofficial Triumvirate which was negotiated to appease both the Roman citizens and the power hungry rivals. Still, this agreement would not last long. After Pompey’s wife, Julia Caesar and daughter of Caesar’s daughter given to Pompey to establish the Trimvirate, dies in childbirth, civil war breaks out as Caesar leads his army against Rome. He fights until Pompey is murdered in Egypt. As Rome is “shattered,” Julius Caesar one person should rule. He
Julius Caesar, a Roman general, dictator, and leader, is considered to be one of history 's most influential and powerful rulers to this day, in which his rise to power, conquest of Europe, and controversial downfall all remain to be told during modern days. The play Julius Caesar written by William Shakespeare, portrays the events leading up to Julius Caesar’s assassination, and how those who conspired against him banded together and plotted Caesar’s demise. Many of those conspirators assassinated Caesar due to his quick rise to absolute power, his “acts” of disrespect against the senate such as his failing to stand to receive the title of becoming a “god,” and pure jealousy and anger towards Caesar’s success and rule over the Roman empire. Caesar, an ambitious man, was able to conquer many lands and peoples for Rome through successful military campaigns in which he became one Rome’s best generals due to the amount of successful battles he had won and the amount of blood he had shed for Rome’s expansion. However, Caesar’s trait of ambitiousness would prove to be a double edged sword.
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.
In life, people often look up to leaders and rulers in respectful viewpoints; whether it be out of bias or out of understanding. Leaders are at the top looking down upon us because of what they believe in, how commanding their words are, and the trust the people invest in them. Julius Caesar was neither a kind leader nor was he an understanding ruler; from his egotistical actions, his violent attacks and scandals with Cleopatra, and his controversy throughout Rome as leader in all its simplicity, I am undoubtedly certain Julius Caesar was a villain in disguise.
Julius Caesar is a powerful, confident man who leads great armies and efficiently rules the Roman Empire.
Julius Caesar was said to be a great ruler. Julius Caesar conquered many great lands. Some places that Caesar conquered was lands such as Britain, Gaul (modern day France), Egypt, Syria, Pontus (modern day Turkey), and most of the western European continent. “Caesar has always been one of the most controversial characters of history. His admirers have seen in him the defender of the rights of the people against an oligarchy. His detractors have seen him as an ambitious demagogue, who forced his way to dictatorial power and destroyed the republic. That he was gifted and versatile there can be little doubt. He excelled in war, in statesmanship, and in oratory.” (Columbia Electric Encyclopedia)
All this comes down the last point that will be made in this essay, Julius Caesar’s assassins believed that what they were doing was what was best for the Roman Republic and its citizens. Caesar showed all the signs of becoming a corrupt king-like ruler. With the past experiences of Rome the men that killed Caesar just wanted to help the people they swore
In Shakespeare’s play, Caesar is a highly respected man that holds great power, and as he gains more power there are men who stand to oppose him. This is how Caesar shows so many good qualities of leadership, like keeping an open ear to the people, being observant and proud, as well as being honest. The attributes that Caesar shows has gained him the trust of all of the people, already proivng just how worthy he is to be called the greatest authority figure in Shakespeare’s drama The Tradgedy of Julius Caesar.
He compares Caesar to a serpent in an egg which he must kill before it hatches. Brutus knows that Caesar is gaining too much power too quickly and it must come to an end. He shows his belief in a republic government by saying, “We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar / And in the spirit of men there is no blood" (II.i. 180-181). Cassius is a character who is jealous of Caesar’s power and also wants it to end. He forms a group of conspirators who are against Julius Caesar. He persuades Brutus to help him and the other conspirators to kill Caesar during the ides of March. Brutus joins but only due to his love for Rome and its people. He proves this by saying "Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius." (II.i. 179). This also proves his love for Caesar because he wants to kill him with some sort of honor. Brutus wants the citizens to look at him not as a murderer but for someone who cares for his country. He expresses his ideas toward the stabbing by saying , “If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my answer-not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more" (III, ii, 17-19).
When the conspirators were discussing plan on how they should preceed on killing Caesar , Brutus made it very apparent on how the killing should go, stating “Let’s kill him boldly but not wrathfully. / Let’s carve him as a dish fit for gods, / Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds.” This meant that Brutus loved Caesar enough to respect his remains and not have the murder perceived as gruesome but as essential for Rome to remain free, peaceful and have liberty. Brutus wanted his body to be in such pristine condition that it would be fit for the gods. He was keeping in mind that he was not killing Caesar out of his personal strife, but for greater well-being of Rome. This way of thinking would affect the murder from being seen as savage to humane, only doing what was necessary to kill him. However this would mind-set would change if Brutus hated Caesar. Brutus would not care to respect a body of a man he hated, he would want to kill him wrathfully, and try to cause the most pain he possibly could.
When Julius Caesar was brutally murdered, rumors went flying. But are any of them true? In 44 B.C Julius Caesar was a very powerful man. Many people enjoyed having him as their dictator, but many did not. On March 14th 44 B.C, Julius Caesar met his end. Brutus, Cassius, and the Senate are responsible for this crime.
The killers assassinated Caesar without clear justification and did it based on their own assumptions of him. Cassius says, “Upon what meat doth this our Caesar feed That he is grown so great? Age, thous art shame! Rome thous hast last the breed of noble bloods!”(Act I, scii, 150-153). Cassius is asking what is so great about Caesar without saying what isn’t great about him. One of Caesar’s good friends, Brutus, claims he
Julius Caesar’s exceptional leadership skills begin with his victories in the Gallic Wars. The Gallic Wars were battles in Gaul with Caesar and his men fighting various rebelling Gallic tribes. These Gallic rebellions were caused by a population boom within the tribes of Gaul, causing them to leak into Roman territory (Gallic
'I came, I saw, I conquered.' These are the words of the man who changed the history of the world. This paper will show how no other man in the history of the world represented military and political power better than Julius Caesar. He became a legend for his military exploits and great leadership ability.