Ceasars'_Assassination

Caesar’s assassination took place in the year 44BC. According to the ancient historians Plutarch and Suetonius, there were a range of immediate and long-term impacts of Caesar’s assassination in the years following the event, however the accounts of these two men differ at times in terms of their arguments. Recorded impacts include public confusion, astrological changes, the emergence of Octavian, Caesar inspired actions by Octavian, and the eventual fall of the republic when Octavian becomes the absolute ruler of Rome. Plutarch believed that Caesar had ‘planned from the outset of his career to overthrow the republic’ to gain absolute power, and that he was most openly and mortally hated due to his passion to be made King. He also writes of times where Caesar insulted the Senate, causing further bitterness towards him. Both Plutarch and Suetonius describe a certain meeting of the senate where Caesar was to be granted a list of honours. He sat in front of the Temple of Mother Venus, and did not rise to greet the senate. Suetonius says that even the commons had come to disapprove of how things were going, and no longer hid their disgust at Caesar’s tyrannical rule. This shows that both Plutarch and Suetonius agree that Caesar’s actions were causing feelings of resentment by all types of people during the lead up to his assassination. On the day of the assassination, Plutarch and Suetonius comment on some of the immediate impacts of the event. Plutarch writes that the spectators in the senate meeting who were not in the conspiracy were so ‘horror-struck and amazed’ at what was occurring, that they were ‘afraid to run away and afraid to come to Caesar’s help.’ This implies that the people of the senate did not necessarily want Caesar to be killed and wanted to help, but were not brave enough. He also describes a ‘state of confusion, terror, bewilderment’ among the people of Rome once the news was spread. Suetonius agrees that there was a great sense of confusion among the senate immediately after the assassination, and that there was great public grief. Both Plutarch and Suetonius also agree and mention in their writings that the day after the assassination it was voted that Caesar should be worshipped as a God. Plutarch says that it was also decided by the senate that no alterations were to be made to any measures passed by Caesar during his time in power, although this was not held in the future. It is recorded that a supernatural event occurred that was thought to be due to Caesar’s death. The ‘great comet’ shone extremely brightly for 7 nights following the assassination. Suetonius explains that this comet was to be ‘Caesar’s soul, elevated to Heaven’ ; hence the statue now placed above the forehead of his divine image. This astrological occurrence was thought to be associated with Caesar’s assassination by Suetonius, Plutarch and other Romans due to their religious beliefs and deep analysis of all supernatural events. It was believed at the time that all events were due to the will of the Gods. In association with these beliefs, Plutarch held that the ‘great divine power or genius’ which had watched over Caesar and helped him during his life, stayed active even after his death as ‘an avenger of his murder.’ He writes that this ‘power’ pursued and found each murderer over every land and sea until not one of them was left. Suetonius however does not make reference to this divine power, and simply states that ‘very few…of the assassins outlived Caesar for more than three years, or died naturally.’ This suggests that Suetonius was perhaps less religious and spiritual than Plutarch. One of the more long term impacts of Caesar’s assassination involves the emergence of Octavian who eventually came to be the absolute ruler of Rome, ending a 500 year old Republic. Caesar’s will indicated that Octavian was to be his heir. Octavian then came to Rome and ‘entered upon his inheritance.’ Suetonius writes that ‘the underlying motive of every campaign was that Augustus (Octavian) felt it his duty, above all, to avenge Caesar and keep his decrees in force.’ Suetonius gave an example of this; the defeat of Brutus and Cassius, two of Caesar’s assassins, by Octavian at Philippi. He says that Octavian sent Brutus’ head back to Rome for throwing at the feet of Caesar’s divine image. Plutarch on the other hand, writes a different account of the death of Brutus, but it is also in association with avenging Caesar’s murder. He describes a ‘phantom which appeared to Brutus making it clear that the murder of Caesar was not pleasing to the Gods.’ He describes the Phantom speaking to Brutus, saying that he will see him at Philippi. Plutarch continues to say that Brutus didn’t die in the battle, but afterwards ‘put his naked sword into his breast and with the help of a friend…killed himself.’ Once again Plutarch’s description of the event is from a more spiritual angle than Suetonius. Caesar’s assassination caused much change in the Roman Republic, small and large-scale, short and long-term. The most significant impact being the emergence of Octavian as Caesar’s heir, who eventually came to end the republic by becoming an absolute ruler of Rome. Although Suetonius and Plutarch have differing arguments on occasion to do with details of situations, their general arguments and writings are similar in what they convey about the assassination of Caesar and the impacts of this event. Seager, Robin. Plutarch Fall Of The Roman Republic. London: Penguin Classics, 1972. Grant, Michael. The Twelve Caesars: Penguin Books, 1979.