The Assassination of Julius Caesar
The Assassination of Julius Caesar
The assassination of Julius Caesar in 44BC by conspiring members of the Roman senate was an effort to remove a dictator whose power had grown to extraordinary levels and to revive the Republic government. Caesar’s power span throughout the entire Roman Empire, which during his reign extended from present day Syria, down into parts of Africa, over to Spain, most of France and all of Italy. He had the favor of the people, military and most of the Roman government. Caesar’s death at the hand of conspirators did remove him from power; however, it did not restore the Republic government as the Senate had anticipated, on-the-other hand it gave rise to yet a more powerful dictator that was beyond what Caesar had achieved prior to his demise. Preceding Caesar’s rise to power, the Roman Empire was ruled by the Senate which in turn was determined by the people; however, the Senate resided in Rome and could not directly govern the wide expanse of the Roman Empire. Rome was split into provinces, each province was presided over by a governor appointed by the Senate and changed every year. The governor’s performance depended solely on his personal character; Roman government did not include a check and balance system such as current governments do today. The lack thereof created social unrest throughout many provinces. An unmoral governor could rule as they saw fit, taking advantage of their constituents. Social unrest was not the only breakdown of the Roman government; military forces did not receive their entire pay from the Republic. Soldiers were paid a wage from the state, but relied upon their general to provide spoils of war to supplement pay. Wealthier generals could even provide soldiers with parcels of land at the time of their discharge. Many soldiers were poor non-land owners depending on their service in the military to provide them and their families a better life. This dependency shifted the allegiance of the armies
The assassination of Julius Caesar in 44BC by conspiring members of the Roman senate was an effort to remove a dictator whose power had grown to extraordinary levels and to revive the Republic government. Caesar’s power span throughout the entire Roman Empire, which during his reign extended from present day Syria, down into parts of Africa, over to Spain, most of France and all of Italy. He had the favor of the people, military and most of the Roman government. Caesar’s death at the hand of conspirators did remove him from power; however, it did not restore the Republic government as the Senate had anticipated, on-the-other hand it gave rise to yet a more powerful dictator that was beyond what Caesar had achieved prior to his demise. Preceding Caesar’s rise to power, the Roman Empire was ruled by the Senate which in turn was determined by the people; however, the Senate resided in Rome and could not directly govern the wide expanse of the Roman Empire. Rome was split into provinces, each province was presided over by a governor appointed by the Senate and changed every year. The governor’s performance depended solely on his personal character; Roman government did not include a check and balance system such as current governments do today. The lack thereof created social unrest throughout many provinces. An unmoral governor could rule as they saw fit, taking advantage of their constituents. Social unrest was not the only breakdown of the Roman government; military forces did not receive their entire pay from the Republic. Soldiers were paid a wage from the state, but relied upon their general to provide spoils of war to supplement pay. Wealthier generals could even provide soldiers with parcels of land at the time of their discharge. Many soldiers were poor non-land owners depending on their service in the military to provide them and their families a better life. This dependency shifted the allegiance of the armies
Cited: Horne, Charle F, Claude Herman and Walters Johns. Ancient History Sourcebook: Appian: The Furneral of Julius Caesar, 44 BCE. 1910-1915. 25 09 2011 http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/appian-juliusdeath.asp. Horne, Charle F, Claude Herman and Walters Johns. "Ancient History Sourcebook: Suetonius (c.69-after 122 CE):De Vita Caesarum, Divus lulius (The Lives of the Caesars, The Deified Julius), written c. 110 CE." 1910-1915. Fordham University: The Jesuit Univesity of New York. 25 09 2011 http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/suetonius-julius.asp. Horne, Charle F, Cluade Herman and Walters Johns. Ancient History Sourcebook: Plutarch: The Assassination of Julius Caesar, from Marcus Brutus (excerpts). 1910-1915. 25 09 2011 http://www.fordham.edu/Halsall/ancient/plutarch-caesar.asp. Plutarch. Caesar by Plutarch Written 75 A.C.E. Translated by John Dryden. 1994. David C Stevenson. 24 09 2011 http://classics.mit.edu/Plutarch/caesar.html. (linked from History Guide <http://www.historyguide.org/) SparkNotes: The Roman Empire (60 BCE-160 CE): From Republic to Dictatorship: Caesar to Octavain. 25 09 2001 http://www.sparknotes.com/history/european/rome3/section1.rhtml. Annenberg Learner. “The Western Tradition: 09 The Rise of Rome”. 1989 Annenberg Learner. 24 09 2011 < http://www.learner.org/vod/vod_window.html?pid=827>. Annenberg Learner. “The Western Tradition: 10 The Roman Empire”. 1989 Annenberg Learner. 24 09 2011 <http://www.learner.org/vod/vod_window.html?pid=828>