Commemorating the Death of Julius Caesar

(15 March 30 A.D.)

As you all know, it is the 14^th anniversary of Julius Caesar’s death. And although, towards the end of his rule the citizens of Rome were unhappy with his dictatorship, he glorified and contributed so much to this city. In honor of the anniversary of his death we talked to two experts on his life. Suetonius and Plutarch. We talk about Caesar’s personal characteristics and reforms to the Roman empire with Suetonius and Plutarch gives us insight into Caesar’s death.

Me: Hello Gentlemen. In honor of the anniversary of Julius Caesar’s death, I’d like to ask you a few questions about him. Let’s start with his person attributes shall we?

Suetonius: Thank you for having us. Physically, Caesar was tall, fair, and well-built. He had a broad face and keen looking brown eyes.

Me: Did he also dress non-traditionally? Could you tell me more about that?

Suetonius: The way he dressed was unusual; he added wrist-length sleeves with fringes to his purple striped senatorial tunic. He wore a belt over his tunic, but had it fastened loosely

Me: Not tying it tightly was his way of expressing his dominance, correct?

Suetonius: Indeed.

Me: How was he as a military leader? We've all, at some point, heard praise about Caesar as a general. Does he deserve the praise he receives?

Suetonius: Yes I think he does. "Caesar was a most skillful swordsman and horseman, and showed surprising powers of endurance. It is a disputable point which was the more remarkable when he went to war: his caution or his daring." He never exposed his army to ambushes, but made careful attacks.

Me: Was he good to his soldiers? Were they loyal to him?

Suetonius: "Sometimes, if a victory had been complete enough, he relieved the troops of all military duties and let them carry on as wildly as they pleased. He addressed them not as ‘My soldiers’ but as ‘Comrades ….’, which put them in good humor".

Me: So do you think that it’s possible that he could have won their loyalty through his interactions with them?

Suetonius: Yes it is by these means he won the devotion of his army. Throughout the entire struggle of the Civil War not a single Cesarean deserted.

Me: After he won the civil war, Caesar returned to Rome and declared himself dictator for life. While he was dictator, what kind of reforms did he attempt?

Suetonius:  Well first, he reorganized the calendar which the College of Priests, had allowed to fall into such disorder, by inserting days, or months as it suited them. Caesar lengthened the year so it fit with the course of the Sun.

Me: How about  his reforms in the Senate?

Suetonius: He strengthened the Senate by increasing the number of members within it. He created new patricians, and increased the yearly quota of praetors, aediles, and quaestors, as well as of minor officials. He also arranged the commons so that half of the magistrates, not including the Consul, had to be elected and the other half had to be nominated by him.

Me: Didn't he also encourage education?

Suetonius: Yes he did. In order to encourage medical doctors and professors of liberal arts to stay in Rome, and encourage others to both pursue the career paths or migrate to Rome, he granted them citizenship.

Me: Thank you so much for your time Suetonius. Let’s now talk to Plutarch about Caesar’s death. Thank you for coming sir. What happened during the day that led up to his murder?

Plutarch: Caesar put off anything of importance pretending to be sick the day of his murder because of the ill-omens that attended his sacrifice.

Me: How did the group that killed Caesar set up for it?

Plutarch: When the senate went into the chamber to find where they sat, the company wishing to murder him sat close to Caesar’s chair.

Me: How did they go about actually murdering him?

Plutarch: When Caesar entered the whole senate rose up to him and when he sat down everyone crowded around him. They  set Tillius Climber to be in place of his brother. They all joined prayers with him, and took Caesar by the hand and kissed his head and his breast. He told them to stop and they didn’t stop, angering him. Caesar stood up abruptly and Tilius grabbed Caesar’s hands and pulled his robe of his shoulders.  And after that they all attacked him s viciously that they even cut each other and by the end they were all covered in blood.

Me: Who landed the first blow? What were his last words?

Plutarch: Casca made a shallow wound on his shoulder and the Ceasar cried out in Latin, “ Villian Casca, what do you?”  Calling for his brother to come help him, but by that time, he was already being attacked.

Me: That was the fall of Julius Caesar, our self- proclaimed dictator. Thank you so much, men. Please remember him in your prayers.