Transcript Caesar`s Murder

The Murder of Julius Caesar
Initial Reports coming in…
• ...Caesar was apparently stabbed several times in the back
while in the Senate building. There were lots of people around
at the time and there are no eyewitness reports to identify the
murderer at this time. It is not clear whether people other than
senators were present, although that seems quite likely given
the amount of noise in the Senate chamber. Nobody has
claimed responsibility for the killing yet and nobody has tried to
personally gain from the murder yet. Guards on duty are unable
to provide a full list of people who left the building after the
killing due to the commotion.
• An armed guard has been sent to the homes of other leading
Senators to protect them and a group of generals has been
asked to arrange further investigations.
The Public Reaction!
Newspapers of Rome give different opinions about the murder…
The Roman Times
“A Great loss”
Julius Caesar, conqueror of Gaul and Britannia has been murdered. No longer
can Rome call upon her greatest son to lead us to more victories and further
glory. This day shall long be remembered as one of the saddest in Rome's
Glorious history.
The Daily Parchment
“New Hope”
Rome has been given a new hope of lasting peace and democracy following
the brave actions of an unknown killer. Julius Caesar's plans to become king
have finally been stopped by the courageous act of this unknown activist. No
longer will Romans have to wake in fear of another tyranny, Rome is once
again free to be ruled by the Senate and can again look brightly towards her
future.
Who would kill Caesar?
The Roman Police have made some preliminary
inquiries and have discovered several groups of
people with clear motives to kill Julius Caesar.
The Evidence
The Generals say…
Source 1
"Caesar was a great leader, his authority over the troops was never challenged by the men.
Rome gained power and prestige as a result of his fabulous leadership. Why would any soldier
wish to have him dead? His loss is great, he will be sorely missed by all of Rome.“
Source 2
"He treated his men with contempt, leading them into battles that were bound to end in misery
for many of our troops. The glory of Rome? He doesn't know the meaning of a glorious victory!
His men fight through fear of him, they'll be glad that he's gone: the armed forces of the roman
empire have never responded to threats for long. I'd not be surprised if one of his own men had
stabbed him in the back.“
Source 3
"Julius Caesar was respected by the other generals. He was brave and courageous. Caesar led
the army on expeditions that no other general would even dare to consider; and look at what we
have gained from this! The new world over the ocean, bear skins, slaves and Tin are now
plentiful in Rome thanks to his journey's into Briton and beyond. He feared nothing and has
gained the world for Rome. What evil has taken him from us?“
Source 4
"His Excellency showed that he was the greatest warrior of all time. He was undefeated in battle
and an excellent diplomat. Our enemies shiver at the sound of his name. Most capitulated
within minutes. The other generals are in awe of Julius, he was their leader, their idol and the
one that they aspired to please."
The Evidence
(Part 2)
Other Politicians say…
Source 5
"Some senators hated Caesar. They wanted to prevent him becoming a King.“
Source 6
“Caesar had powerful enemies within the Senate. They had plotted against
him several times before and were scared of him because he was so
successful and popular. These senators would happily kill him to improve
their chances of success.“
Source 7
"Julius Caesar had nothing to fear from the Seante. He won them wars and
the people loved the Senate because of that."
So far…
So far you have been provided with very little actual evidence about the murder of
Julius Caesar. Historians are often faced with lots of evidence that is based on
peoples opinions rather than actual facts.
The initial reports that you have received outline just a few factual details about the
case. You know that Caesar has been stabbed and that he died as a result of his
wounds. You found out from the report that there were lots of people around at the
time.
You have also been told that the centurions on duty cannot identify the killer. You
need to look for further evidence in order to find the killer.
The two different newspaper reports carry different interpretations of the events. The
Roman Times thinks that Caesar was Rome’s greatest leader and that the murder is
a horrible crime. The Daily Parchment is glad that Caesar has been killed because
this means that there is now a chance of Rome regaining a democracy. The two
papers are written by people who have very different opinions.
The opinions of the generals also demonstrates a number of different ways of looking
at Caesar. Sources one, three and four suggest that the soldiers will be unhappy
about Caesar's murder. An alternative reason is given by Source two. This source
suggests that Caesar was a bully and that his men disliked the way he treated them.
A young historian can infer a lot from these sources. Source four, for example,
suggests that the other generals were in aware of Caesar. This may have made
some of them jealous of his power.
New Developments…
• Caesar was stabbed 23 times.
• Eye Witness reports state that senators were present at the time.
• Brutus, one of the leading Senators has been implicated: he has
no alibi.
• Caesar's servants report that a note warning him not to go to the
senate was received by Caesar: he ignored it.
• Pro-Republic senators are rejoicing. Elections for new consuls are
being hastily prepared.
• Brutus has stated that he wishes to be consul.
• Marc Anthony, Octavian and Lepidus have expressed their
anguish and have promised to bring Caesar's murderers to justice.
Caesar’s Death
Julius Caesar was murdered by a group of senators who were angry that he
had been made 'ruler for life'. This group included Brutus.
Caesar had become a consul in 59BC and had quickly fallen out with the
other elected consul, Bibulus. Caesar had wanted to make drastic changes
to the way that Rome was ruled and used his position as a successful and
popular general to take control of Rome.
He did this by starting a Civil War. Caesar fought to have power and do
things his own way. He didn't want the other senators to be killed and upon
winning the civil war he had pardoned most of his supporters. It was these
men who later conspired against him and had him killed.
When he won the Civil War, Caesar was made ruler of Rome for life: but he
refused to be crowned King. Even so there were many people who thought
that he wanted to be a king. His opponents were angry that the power of the
Senate and the consuls had been reduced. they wanted the people, not
Caesar, to elect the Consuls and were very angry that Caesar had special
powers. This was not what the republic was meant to be about. (The last
king of Rome had been deposed so the people could have a real say in the
way that Rome was ruled).
Caesar’s Death
However, Caesar did have many supporters. They argued that
Caesar deserved the special powers as he had proved himself
to be the best General and leader that Rome had. Caesar was
forgiving and had only fought to get what was best for Rome: if
he wanted to be King he would have taken the crown and killed
all of his opponents, which he hadn't done.
After his murder power was seized by his supporters, Marc
Anthony, Octavian and Lepidus. They were very powerful
generals who took power by force and killed many of Caesar's
opponents at the battle of Phillipi.
The empire was then split into two with Anthony and Octavian
ruling half each (Lepidus retired). By 33BC though these men
were arguing and another Civil War broke out.
Octavian won and was later proclaimed emperor of the whole of
the Roman Empire.
Your Newspaper Story
CAESAR ASSASSINATED!
Julius Caesar has died
following a bloodthirsty
attack on him on the steps of
the Senate building.
Bystanders report that…
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Julius Caesar will be
remembered by the
Romans for both the
good and bad things that
he did. Here's a list of
some of the things that
he will be remembered
for:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.