The Assassination of Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar was one of the most famous leaders in Roman history. He was a brilliant general who won many battles. He became so powerful that he was named dictator of Rome. But many Roman senators feared he had too much power. On March 15, 44 BCE, a day known as the Ides of March, a group of senators attacked and killed Caesar. His death changed Rome forever.

Caesar's Rise to Power

Julius Caesar was born into a noble family in Rome. He became a great military leader and conquered the land of Gaul, which is now France. The people of Rome loved him. He gave land to the poor and made the calendar better. But the Senate worried he wanted to be king. In the Roman Republic, no one was supposed to have that much power. Some senators decided they had to stop him.

The Ides of March

On March 15, 44 BCE, Caesar went to the Senate. A group of about 60 senators had planned to kill him. When Caesar arrived, they surrounded him and attacked with daggers. Caesar was stabbed 23 times. According to legend, when he saw his friend Brutus among the attackers, he said, 'You too, Brutus?' After Caesar's death, Rome fell into civil war. Eventually, his adopted son Octavian became the first emperor.

Fun Facts

• The month of July is named after Julius Caesar.
• Caesar helped create the calendar we mostly use today, called the Julian calendar.
• Shakespeare wrote a famous play about Caesar's death called 'Julius Caesar.'

Did You Know?

A fortune teller reportedly warned Caesar to 'beware the Ides of March,' but Caesar ignored the warning and went to the Senate anyway.