Why was Caesar killed?
- Davit Grigoryan
- Jun 15, 2024
- 7 min read
Updated: Mar 16
The name of Gaius Julius Caesar is forever etched in world history. He was a remarkable ruler and commander who achieved numerous victories. However, his life was not without defeat. Although the people admired Caesar, towards the end of his reign, he made a highly controversial decision that ultimately led to his assassination by conspirators. How did Caesar rise to greatness, and why was he killed? Let’s delve into these questions.
How did Caesar's career begin?
Caesar came from the ancient patrician family of the Julii. Although his family was noble, they were relatively poor. Caesar’s youth unfolded during the dictatorship of Sulla, a military leader who seized complete power in Rome after a brutal civil war in 83–82 BC. Sulla initiated a ruthless persecution of his former opponents, and during this time, Caesar nearly lost his life.
While part of Caesar’s family supported Sulla, others opposed the dictator. Sulla frequently clashed with Caesar on various matters. For instance, he demanded that Caesar divorce his wife, Cornelia, the daughter of one of Sulla’s chief adversaries, Lucius Cornelius Cinna. Eventually, Caesar’s name was added to the infamous proscription list—a record of individuals Sulla intended to execute.
Faced with imminent danger, Caesar was forced to flee Rome and remained in hiding for an extended period. However, thanks to the persistent efforts of his family, Sulla’s wrath was eventually replaced by clemency, allowing Caesar to survive this perilous chapter of his life.
However, Caesar was in no hurry to return to Rome. Instead, he served in Anatolia, where he participated in several successful military campaigns. During this time, he demonstrated his skills as a capable military leader and a gifted orator.
Sulla retired in 79 BC and passed away a year later. This allowed Caesar to return to Rome. By this time, his ambitions and desire for power were already taking shape. He decided to establish himself as an orator and lawyer, even going so far as to prosecute some of Sulla’s supporters. However, despite his exceptional oratorical abilities, he was unsuccessful in court.
Determined to improve his skills, Caesar decided to travel to Rhodes to study at the oratorical school of Apollonius, the mentor of the renowned Cicero. Yet, this journey did not go as planned. On the way, Caesar was kidnapped by pirates. According to legend, he maintained his composure, joked with the pirates, and even established a friendly rapport with them. However, it is more likely that this story has been embellished over time.
Shortly after his liberation, Caesar exacted harsh revenge on the pirates, a decisive action that marked the beginning of his ascent to power. He was soon elected as a military tribune, serving as one of the key advisers within the Roman legion. Around the same time, Caesar formed a close alliance with Marcus Licinius Crassus, one of the wealthiest and most influential figures in Rome.
Caesar climbs the career ladder
In early 69 BC, Caesar’s wife, Cornelia, tragically passed away during her second childbirth, and the child did not survive. This left Caesar with only one surviving child, his daughter Julia. As was customary in Rome, girls were typically named after their fathers. Around the same time, Caesar’s aunt also passed away.
During his aunt’s funeral, Caesar delivered a famous eulogy, which was highly unusual at the time, as public speeches for women were not customary. It would take another two centuries for the tradition of commemorating women in this manner to become common.
This act of defiance and eloquence helped Caesar secure a position as quaestor, serving as an assistant to the consul on various administrative matters in the same year. For members of noble families, this role often marked the beginning of a political career and the path to joining the Senate.
Caesar traveled to Spain to fulfill his duties as quaestor, and upon his return, he began formulating ambitious plans. He aimed to curtail the Senate's influence and aligned himself with Gnaeus Pompey, a brilliant military commander and one of the most influential figures in the republic.
By 66 BC, Caesar had become extremely popular. While Pompey was engaged in campaigns in the East, Caesar managed Italy on Pompey’s behalf, solidifying his own authority. That same year, Caesar was elected curule aedile, a position akin to a mayor of Rome. In this role, he oversaw the construction and maintenance of roads, ensured food supplies, and managed other civic matters.
To win the favor of the masses, Caesar organized grand games and lavish celebrations, steadily building his support among ordinary citizens. At this stage, Caesar was already envisioning grand military victories to bolster his power. He even requested soldiers to launch a campaign to conquer Egypt, but the Senate denied his request.
In 63 BC, Caesar was elected as the supreme pontiff, the high priest of Rome. To achieve this, he resorted to bribing all the electors. This position granted him immense authority and eternal prestige. It also allowed him to further capitalize on the people's support to advance his ambitions.
Two years later, in 61 BC, Caesar was appointed as the proprietor of Spain. During his tenure, he governed the region’s cities, worked to reconcile feuding clans, and dealt harshly with anyone who dared to challenge his authority. His leadership in Spain further solidified his reputation as a decisive and powerful figure.
In 60 BC, Caesar returned to Rome. The Senate deemed his victories in Spain significant enough to grant him a triumph—a grand ceremonial procession in which a victorious commander entered Rome on a gilded chariot, greeted by the jubilant cheers of the crowd. This was the highest honor a Roman general could receive.
However, Caesar had other ambitions. He intended to run for the consulship and had just reached the minimum eligible age. According to Roman law, a triumphant commander could not enter the city before the celebration began, which created a conflict for Caesar. Determined not to miss the opportunity to submit his candidacy, Caesar made the bold decision to forgo the triumph.
The First Triumvirate
Caesar, along with two of the most powerful men in Rome—Marcus Licinius Crassus and Gnaeus Pompey the Great—decided to consolidate their power. Together, they formed the First Triumvirate, a political alliance aimed at shaping the future of the Roman state. To strengthen his ties with Pompey, Caesar even married his daughter to him.
Caesar was elected consul and ruled with the backing of Crassus and Pompey. In return for their support, he pushed through an agrarian law that granted large plots of land to Pompey’s veterans.
Leveraging the support of the people, Caesar also passed laws that undermined the authority of the Senate. Within just 20 years, he had risen to the highest echelons of power in Rome—but even this was not enough for him. Caesar was appointed consul from Alpine Gaul, marking the beginning of his greatest military campaign, the Gallic War.
Caesar went on to conquer all of Gaul, invade Germanic territory, and attempt the first invasion of the British Isles. In 52 BC, almost all the Gallic tribes united under the leadership of Vercingetorix. Caesar was forced to subdue the Gauls with relentless force, a process that took another two years.
The Civil War
While Caesar was engaged in suppressing the Gauls, tensions were escalating in Rome. In 53 BC, during a military campaign in Parthia, Marcus Licinius Crassus was killed. This loss deprived Caesar of vital support. Additionally, Caesar’s daughter Julia passed away, which strained the relationship between Pompey and Caesar. Without her to balance their conflict, the two men’s alliance began to crumble.
The Senate, seizing the opportunity, demanded that Caesar relinquish his lands and disband his armies. They summoned him to stand trial in Rome, but Caesar made the boldest of decisions: he crossed the Rubicon River, the boundary of his province of Italy, where it was forbidden for a general to bring his army. With 5,000 loyal legionaries, Caesar marched into Italy. This act marked the beginning of the Civil War.
Caesar quickly conquered all of Italy, employing a policy of mercy that helped him win the support of many. He was careful in dealing with the defeated, showing understanding toward those who wavered in their loyalty. This approach played a crucial role in his rise to power.
Caesar captured Italy, and Pompey was forced to flee to Greece. Although Caesar intended to pursue Pompey, he faced a lack of warships. Instead, he decided to secure his rear and headed to Spain to defeat the legions loyal to Pompey. Afterward, he returned to Italy, where his soldiers, weary from the prolonged conflict, began to rebel.
However, due to Caesar’s remarkable charisma, he was able to quell the unrest. The soldiers admired Caesar deeply; he had led them in numerous battles, addressed the centurions by name, and personally congratulated the soldiers on their victories.
Despite having superior military strength, it was not easy for Caesar to defeat Pompey. Pompey commanded a powerful navy and successfully defeated Caesar’s legions in the Balkans. Undeterred, Caesar decided to launch a naval assault on Greece. However, he was defeated in battle and was forced to retreat with his defeated army.
After this defeat, Caesar gathered his army once again and ultimately defeated Pompey. Pompey fled to Alexandria, where he was killed by the Egyptians. It was here that Caesar met Cleopatra, who was struggling to secure her power in Egypt. A romance blossomed between them, and Caesar assisted her in consolidating her rule over the country.
Pompey’s death did not bring an end to the civil war. His supporters gathered new forces in Africa, while in Anatolia, King Pharnaces II sought to take advantage of the turmoil in the Roman Republic. After swiftly defeating Pharnaces, Caesar sent a brief message to the Senate: Veni, Vidi, Vici (I came, I saw, I conquered). Caesar then turned his attention to Africa, where he defeated the remaining Pompeian forces.
In Rome, Caesar was appointed dictator for a period of ten years. Upon his return to the capital, he celebrated four consecutive triumphs. This solidified his position as the sole and undisputed ruler of Rome.
How and why did Caesar die?
Upon returning to Rome, Caesar declared himself dictator for life, launched a widespread propaganda campaign, and established a cult of personality. He minted coins bearing his image, renamed the month of Quintilis in his honor (renaming it July), and consistently wore a purple triumphal robe and a laurel wreath.
His growing desire for kingship led to a conspiracy against him, orchestrated by Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus. On March 15, 44 BC, Caesar, the great Roman leader, was assassinated in the Senate.
After Caesar’s death, the Republic was once again engulfed in civil wars, but eventually, Octavian Augustus emerged victorious, becoming the first emperor of Rome.
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