Whose death triggered the collapse of the Roman Republic? Whose death led to the rise of the Roman Empire?
On March 15, 44E BC, a man was assassinated during a senate session at the Theatre of Pompey in Rome. He was stabbed 23 times by conspirators led by Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus. This man is famously known as Gaius Julius Caesar, a Roman general and statesman who became a dictator.
In July of 100 BCE, on the 12th or 13th, Julius Caesar was born into a patrician family, the Julii. He progressed successfully in Roman politics, aligning with political powerbrokers in Pompey and Crassus, forming the very First Triumvirate. Caesar himself was also known for his brilliant military strategy, being famous for his part in the Gallic War, which ended with the conquest of Gaul.
Eventually, things began to fall apart for the Triumvirate; Crassus was killed in 53 BCE by the Parthians, and Julia (Caesar’s daughter and Pompey’s wife) died in childbirth, fracturing the personal bond between the two. With Pompey leaning towards the side of Caesar’s enemies back in Rome, Caesar was put in a difficult position when the Senate ordered that he return without his army, putting him at risk of political destruction and prosecution.
Realizing that there would be no compromise, Julius Caesar led his army back to Italy and famously crossed the Rubicon River, committing the first act of war. And with that, he uttered the phrase, “Alea iacta est”, the die is cast.
During the Civil War, Caesar easily took over Rome and chased Pompey all the way to Egypt, after having previously defeated the man in the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BCE, causing Pompey to flee to Egypt in search of an ally. Unfortunately for Pompey, he was killed at the orders of Ptolemy XIII, who feared angering Caesar. While in Egypt, Caesar grew close to Cleopatra, allegedly having a son together named Caesarion.
After the Civil War, Julius Caesar implemented many reforms and named himself “Dictator for Life” in 44 BCE, causing his assassination by Roman Senators who feared a possible Monarchy. His death prompted further civil wars, leading to the rise of his heir, Augustus, the first Emperor of the Roman Empire.
Thus, March 15 became known as the Ides of March.
