Why was Caesar assassinated Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Why was Caesar assassinated - Essay Example Rome was ruled by a triumvirate consisting of Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus. However, with the death of Crassus, a conflict raised between Pompey and Caesar. Caesar whose continuous growth in power resulted in the conflict as Pompey saw Caesar as a threat to himself. In January of 49 BC Caesar crossed the Rubican River in Northern Italy while Pompey fled to Greece and within 3 months Caesar managed to control the entire Italian peninsula. Caesar then followed Pompey to Greece and then Egypt where he was presented with the head of Pompey as a gift (â€Å"The Assassination of Julius Caesar, 2004). Caesar thus became the sole ruler of the entire Roman Empire. In spite of support from common man Caesar’s growing ambitions and his growth in power were seen as a threat by many especially by the aristocrats and the members of his own senate decided that he had to be stopped. As Caesar continued to become powerful he declared himself dictator in February 44 BC (â€Å"The Assass ination of Julius Caesar, 2004). The senate thought that he would annul the senate rendering their position powerless and would become a tyrant with his decision being omnipotent. The fear for loss of power, the jealousy of seeing a colleague becoming more powerful, the annoyance at acceptance of people for Julius’s power and the arrogance of Julius led to his assassination. Caesar had always had been the one to show off his power, his arrogance and his lifestyle were a reflection of that. Suetonius and Dio write of how his gestures showed his arrogance. For instance when a senatorial delegate informed him about the honors that were being bestowed on him he received them while sitting at the temple of Venus Gittrix. Suetonius further mentions that he had no restrain over his thoughts and that showed when he spoke.(suetonius) "The republic is nothing but a name, without substance or reality. Sulla was stupid to abdicate the dictatorship. Men ought to consider what is becoming when they talk with me, and lookupon what I say as a law."(suetonius) Such arrogance created a negative image of Caesar and his conspirators believed that it was his power that had corrupted him and the only solution they thought was best for the situation was to assassinate Caesar. In spite of his arrogance common people supported him. They cheered him; they called him rex, Latin for king. They already thought of him as their king, their leader. During the crowning ceremony, when he was offered crown, he refused to accept it. People cheered him even then, they thought of this refusal to accept crown as his refusal to accept power. His conspirators on the other hand thought of this as a tactic to gather popular support and considered it as his arrogance and disregard for the general rules laid by senate. The senators who feared Caesar the most included Cassius, Decius, Cicero, Casca and others. However, their fear and hatred never gathered a concrete decision till Cassius realized t hat Brutus feared and disliked Caesar just as much as they did. It was with Brutus that the conspiracy materialized and led to the assassination of Caesar. Cassius was Brutus’s brother in law and they are considered the main conspirators. Cassius knew that Brutus was popular among common people and hence his involvement in the conspiracy was critical. The reason that he confirmed his involvement on various occasions. â€Å"Cassius, gripping Brutus tightly, asked him, â€Å"What will we do in the senate house if Caesar’