Assassination of Julius Caesar
The killing of Roman dictator Julius Caesar by a group of senators on March 15, 44 BCE, during a Senate meeting at the Theatre of Pompey.
Julius Caesar: Roman general and statesman who became dictator and transformed the Roman Republic. His extraordinary accumulation of offices and honors fueled the conspirators’ fears.
Ides of March: The Roman calendar date falling on March 15. The senators chose this date for the attack, which became its enduring name.
Liberators' civil war: The Roman civil war from 43 to 42 BCE between Caesar’s assassins and the forces of his heirs and allies. The conspirators’ attempt to reverse Caesar’s rule led directly to armed conflict.
Et tu, Brute?: A Latin phrase traditionally associated with Caesar’s final moments, meaning “You too, Brutus?” Shakespeare made the phrase the scene’s most famous expression of betrayal.
Roman Republic: The period of ancient Roman government in which elected magistrates and a Senate shared political authority. The assassination unfolded amid the Republic’s breakdown and struggle over who would rule Rome.
Theatre of Pompey: A large Roman theater complex built by Pompey, with a meeting hall used by the Senate. Caesar was attacked in the Senate meeting hall within this complex.
Battle of Philippi: The 42 BCE battles in Macedonia in which Octavian and Mark Antony defeated Brutus and Cassius. The defeat of the leading conspirators ended their bid to shape Rome’s future.
Julius Caesar (Shakespeare play): A tragedy by William Shakespeare dramatizing Caesar’s assassination and its political aftermath. The play shaped later portrayals of Brutus, Caesar, and the motives behind the killing.
First Triumvirate: An informal political alliance among Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus, formed around 60 BCE. Its collapse intensified the rivalries that preceded Caesar’s dictatorship.
Roman Senate: A governing council of Rome whose membership consisted chiefly of leading men of the Roman elite. The conspirators struck during a Senate meeting, exploiting the setting to isolate Caesar.