On March 15, 44 B.C.E.,Julius Caesarwas stabbed to death in Rome, Italy. Caesar was thedictatorof the RomanRepublic, and hisassassins were Roman senators, fellowpoliticians who helped shape Romanpolicyandgovernment.
Julius Caesar wasimmensely popular with the people of Rome. He was a successfulmilitaryleader who expanded the republic to include parts of what are now Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium. Caesar was also a popular author who wrote about his travels, theories, and political views.
Many members of the Senate, a group ofappointed (not elected) political leaders, resented Caesar’s popularity and arrogance. After Caesar attained the status of dictator for life in 44 B.C.E., these officials decided to strike the ultimate blow against his power. A group of as many as 60 conspirators decided to assassinate Caesar at the meeting of the Senate on March 15, the ides of March. Collectively, the group stabbed Caesar a reported 23 times, killing the Roman leader.
The death of Julius Caesar ultimately had the opposite impact of what his assassins hoped. Much of the Roman public hated the senators for the assassination, and a series ofcivil wars ensued. In the end, Caesar’s grandnephew and adoptive son Octavianemerged as Rome’s leader. He renamed himself Augustus Caesar. The reign of Augustus marked the end of the Roman Republic and the start of the RomanEmpire.
