Dwain Northey (Gen X)

A brief history of Julius Caesar and what got him stabbed.

Caesar had served the Republic for eight years in the Gallic Wars, fully conquering the region of Gaul (roughly equivalent to modern-day France). After the Roman Senate demanded that Caesar disband his army and return home as a civilian, he refused, crossing the Rubicon with his army and plunging Rome into Caesar’s Civil War in 49 BC. After defeating the last of the opposition, Caesar was appointed dictator perpetuo, basically King of Rome, in early 44 BC. Roman historian Titus Livius describes three incidents that occurred from 45 to 44 BC as the final causes of Caesar’s assassination – the “three last straws” as far as some Romans were concerned.

The first incident took place in December 45 BC or possibly early 44 BC. According to Roman historian Cassius Dio, after the Senate had voted to grant a large group of honors upon Caesar, they decided to present them to him formally, and marched as a senatorial delegation to the Temple of Venus Genetrix. When they arrived, protocol called for Caesar to stand up to greet the senators, but he did not rise. He also joked about their news, saying that his honors needed to be cut back instead of increased. Roman historian Suetonius wrote that Caesar failed to rise in the temple, either because he was restrained by the consul Lucius Cornelius Balbus or that he was better than other and above the suggestion he should rise. Regardless of the reasoning, by practically rejecting a senatorial gift and not acknowledging the delegation’s presence with proper etiquette, Caesar gave the strong impression that he no longer cared about or excepted the Senate.

The second incident occurred in 44 BC. One day in January, Gaius Epidius Marullus and Lucius Caesetius Flavus discovered a wreath on the head of the statue of Caesar on the Rostra in the Roman Forum. According to Suetonius, the wreath was ordered to be removed because as it was a symbol of Jupiter and royalty. Nobody knew who had placed the wreath, but Caesar suspected that the senate had arranged for it to appear so that they could have the honor of removing it. Matters escalated shortly after on the 26th, when Caesar was riding on horseback to Rome on the Appian Way. A few members of the crowd greeted him as rex (“king”), to which Caesar replied, “I am not Rex, but Caesar”. This was wordplay; “Rex” was a family name as well as a Latin title. Marullus and Flavus, the aforementioned, were not amused, and ordered the man who first cried “rex” arrested. In a later senate meeting, Caesar accused them of attempting to create opposition to him and had them removed from office and membership in the Senate. The Roman lower class took their officials seriously as the representatives of the common people; Caesar’s actions against them put him on the wrong side of public opinion.

The third incident took place at the festival of the Lupercalia, on 15 February 44 BC. Mark Antony, who had been elected co-consul with Caesar, climbed onto the Rostra and placed a wreath on Caesar’s head, saying “The People give this to you through me.” While a few members of the crowd applauded, most responded with silence. Caesar removed the vine crown from his head; Antony again placed it on him, only to get the same response from the crowd. Finally, Caesar put it aside to use as a sacrifice to Jupiter Optimus Maximus. “Jupiter alone of the Romans is king”, Caesar said, which received an enthusiastic response from the crowd. At the time, many believed that Caesar’s rejection of the wreath was a way for him to see if there was enough support for him to become king and despised him for it.

According to Suetonius, Caesar’s assassination ultimately occurred primarily due to concerns that he wished to crown himself the king of Rome.

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I can’t help but read this and hear Dumb Donald talking to his minions and proclaiming himself as the most respected and also the most persecuted man in history.

 (In Donald’s voice)

“I was the Greatest President that this Nations as ever seen… even greater than the Late Great George Washington.

 I won my elections by a lot, more than anyone, they say I lost… FAKE NEWs.

 I alone, accomplished more that anyone ever has for this Great Country and still I am vilified. The Russia, Russia, Russia hoax… totally exonerated, along with the Ukraine hoax…it was a perfect phone call, so perfect.

I have been persecuted more than any leader in history, more than Lincoln, more than that Roman, Caesar, more than Mussolini, even more than the late great Jesus Christ, … all great men, not as great as me, they all did some good things but not as much as I did…” I could go on with this, but I think we all have the annoying voice in our heads now.

Beware the Ides of March Donald because our Senate and House have for more than 60 Senators that are against you.