The assassination of Julius Caesar was the result of a conspiracy group of senators, led by Gaius Cassius Longinus and Marcus Junius Brutus. The conspirators wanted to overthrow Julius Caesar, who during the Civil War evolved from a military commander in the sole ruler of Rome. The conspirators killed Caesar March 15, 44 BC, which led to another civil war and eventually to the establishment of the rule of Caesar's heir Octavian as a Roman emperor. The reign of Caesar as dictator of the Roman Republic lasted for more than four years, and the Senate had no real power. However, the authority of the Senate was also undermined by the predecessors of Caesar.
In 44 BC, Gaius Julius Caesar became dictator for the fourth time, and the consul - in the fifth. His position seemed indisputable; new honors decreed by the Senate, consistent with the already widespread deification. People of Rome have celebrated Days Ratio of Caesar annually as a holiday, and every five years the priests and Vestal made public prayers in his honor, and all of his future orders in advance have had legal effect. Month Quintilis were renamed in July, to Caesar were devoted a number of temples. Caesar was also criticized because of his royal inclinations. There was good example of his royal inclinations - the delegation from Senate went to inform Caesar of new honors conferred upon him by the Senate, Caesar received them sitting in the temple of Venus Genetrix, not rising to meet them. More often heard talk of Caesar and the royal crown. Removal from office of the tribunes, whose power has always been considered sacred and inviolable, made an extremely unfavorable impression.
Soon after these events, Caesar was proclaimed dictator for an unlimited term, and he has begun preparations for the Parthian war. In Rome, have begun to spread rumors that in connection with the campaign of the capital will be moved to Ilium or Alexandria, and to legalize the marriage of Caesar with Cleopatra, will be offered the bill, according to which Caesar received permission to take as many wives themselves, to make an heir.
Monarchical tendencies in the reign of Caesar, whether attributed to him by rumors, have turned against him not only optimates, but even explicit followers of Caesar. Brought up on the Greek way Roman society, has imbued with the idea that the only good is that state system where harmoniously have merged elements of the aristocracy, democracy and monarchy, that the power of one is a violation of this harmony that the worst form of statehood - a tyranny that kill the tyrant who has violated the basis of social system, an honor and a must for every honest citizen - Roman society, that has believed in their fate and admire the exploits of the mythical Brutus, eliminating the kings, and Servilius Ahala, that had ended the tyranny, accustomed with the name of the king associate the idea of the eastern slavery, quite naturally have put up their best representatives to remove a tyrant.
The heart of the conspiracy was an energetic and talented Cassius, but the head of it, because of his name and his ancestors was considered Junius Brutus, a descendant of a mythical Brutus and Servilius Ahala, he undoubtedly was not inspired by the personal ambitions, but the devotion to the republican ideal. A group of senators wanted to regain its former importance of the Senate and to this goal they have conspired.
Most staunch and resolute of the carriers of national and ethnic traditions have entered into an agreement with each other and have decided to kill Caesar. In order to attract people to their side, they have included the Brutus in conspiracy. He has received from various quarters anonymous claims that reminded him about the origin of Brutus, the liberator of Rome from the kings authority, and encourages him to break with Caesar. Finally, Gaius Cassius Longinus drew him to his side. Example of Brutus has prompted then many noble Romans to join the conspiracy against Caesar. One of the main leaders of the future plot Marcus Junius Brutus, in accordance with the traditions of the branches of the Junius, to which he belonged, was a staunch supporter optimates.
Conspiracy against Caesar was formed in the beginning of 44 BC. It was headed by Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus. Caesar's credulity, which was one of the points of his political program was predictable, and made him unarmed and unsuspecting for slaughter conspirators. On March 15, 44 BC, conspirators killed Caesar n boardrooms of Senate, near the theater of Pompey. Signal for the attack gave Lucius Tillius Cimber that defected to the conspirators after Caesar refused to return from exile his brother. Since each of them individually didn't want to become a major killer, they have agreed that each inflict at least one hit, so total on body of Caesar were found 23 wounds.
However, let's analyze whether justified the murder of Gaius Julius Caesar. The conspirators have accused Caesar of usurping power, that he had ruled alone and had used the Senate only as a tool. He was also accused that he has increased the number of senators to 900. Many people that were included in the composition of the Senate, did not belong to the old Roman families, and were the provincial aristocracy and caste equites, accusations that he became too arrogant in the case when he didn't stand up in front of the senators to greet them. It should be noted that the senators were mostly conservatives, especially optimates, and for them the reform of the calendar or the completion of the Senate have been an insult and blasphemy. The example that I have mentioned above, for them it was an insult and blasphemy because the Romans have overthrown the kings and lived for centuries as equal people.
However, in my opinion Caesar acted decisively and correctly. His reforms have ahead his time and thinking of the optimates. The solar calendar was more practical, the number of senators declined because of the constant civil wars that led the Romans in the 1st century BC. By entering to the Senate notable inhabitants of provinces, he only has strengthened the connection between these provinces with Rome conducting the Romanization of these provinces. Distribution of land between the veterans of legions would allow to ease tensions in the society and also to speed up the romanization in provinces.
Extensive construction projects in Rome, such as the Forum of Caesar, have reduced the number of unemployed people. In the sphere of polity Caesar has increased the number of most colleges curule (senior) magistrates. The number of selected annually the praetors was increased from 8 to 14 first, and then to 16. Number of quaestors was increased by 20 people every year, and the aediles - two due aediles ceriales, controlled the supply of bread. Also, Caesar has increased the number of augurs, and pontiffs. Among the goals of increasing the number of magistrates were: creating opportunities for greater involvement of the residents of Italy and people from low classes of the Romans in the administration of the state, the needs of a growing state apparatus (including provincial) and a decrease the severity of the struggle between a candidates that has already resulted in the growth of electoral corruption. Thus, summarizing all the mentioned above I have concluded that conspirators weren’t right and the assassination of the Julius Caesar wasn’t justified.
References
Abbott, F. F., 2001. A History and Description of Roman Political Institutions. Boston: Adamant Media Corporation.
Billows, R. A., 2011. Julius Caesar: The Colossus of Rome. Reprint edition ed. London: Routledge.
Dio, C., 2012. Dio's Roman History: With An English Translation. Charleston: Nabu Press.
Plutarch, 2001. Plutarch's Lives. New York: Modern Library.
Suetonius, 2007. The Twelve Caesars. London: Penguin Classics.
