Beware of The Ides of March

Julius Caesar's bloody assassination on March 15, 44 B.C., forever marked March 15, or the Ides of March, as a day of infamy. It has fascinated scholars and writers ever since.

Julius Cesar was a Roman military, political leader and one of the most influential men in world history. After assuming control of government, he was proclaimed director for life and heavily centralised the bureaucracy of the Republic. A group of senators, led by Caesar's former friend Marcus Brutus assassinated him hoping to restore the normal running of the Republic. The result was another Roman civil war, which ultimately led to the establishment of a permanent autocracy by Caesar's adopted heir.


Caesar was delayed going to the Senate meeting that day because his wife tried to convince him not to go. The conspirators feared the plot had been found out. Brutus persisted, however, waiting for Caesar at the Senate, and allegedly still chose to remain even when a messenger brought him news that would otherwise have caused him to leave. Just as Tillius Cimber handed Cesar a petition asking him to hand power back to the Senate, he pulled down his tunic while Casca thrusted his dagger through Cesar's neck.

The famous last words, "You too Brutus?" will haunt The Roman Empire forever.