Caesar's Assassination

Dicatorship of Caesar

• Caesar pretended to fight for Republic at start of war, becomes god-like warlord by end
• Receives quasi-divine honors
• Half-heartedly acts like a king
• Increasingly dismissive of traditional constition
• Both old supporters and reconciled Republicans want old ways restored
• Caesar has no solution to give him a permanent constitutional position
  • Decides to campaign in East
  • Holds elections for sev. years in advance
• In Feb. 45 is declared "dictator for life"
  • Had been temporary dictator sev. times during war
  • Now clear he had no intention of ever restoring Republic

Assassination Plot

• Assassinated by large senatorial conspiracy
  • Plot led by Cassius and Brutus
  • Reconciled Republicans
• Conspirators thought the old constitution would spring back to life
  • Wrong