The Ides of March: A Small History of its Origin.

March 15th.

If you haven’t taken a Latin or History class regarding the history of the Ancient Roman Empire, this day may seem boring, or just a regular old day. But to Historians and Latin enthusiasts, the ides of March symbolize something big: the assassination of one of Ancient Rome’s strongest, most powerful emperors of the time, Gaius Julius Caesar. Ergo Shakespeare’s famous line, “Beware the Ides of March”

To fully grasp the significance of the events that would later be known as the “Ides of March,” a small history lesson.

Julius Caesar was a part of the Roman Senate.

He was in a group known as the First Triumvirate. This political group was formed by Caesar, Marcus Licinius Crassus (“The Richest Man in Rome”), and Gaeus Pompeius Magnus (Pompey The Great). There was much arguing and discourse in the Roman Senate at the time among Caesar’s First Triumvirate and other political groups. This became more open during the Gallic Wars, which went on from 58 BC to 5o BC. With the death of Crassus in around 53 BC, and the concluding of the Gallic War in 51 BC, the Roman Senate at ordered Caesar to step down from the military and return to Rome. Caesar refused, and started a civil war. His victory bestowed almost unlimited power to him.

With his newly gained power, Caesar began to make widespread changes. Some of these included giving citizenship to many of the far regions within the Republic, the creation of the Julian Calendar, land reforms, government and social reforms, and veteran reforms.

There are many stories that have sprung up about Caesar in legend, one of which is quite funny.  During the Mutiny of the Legions the soldiers and protectors of Rome demanded better treatment, better rewards for their services, and more concessions for themselves. They had to be quelled, or Rome itself would be weak enough to be conquered.

So Caesar decided, against the wishes of his advisors, to meet with said legions within their camp on the outskirts of Rome. He climbed atop a podium and spoke to them, saying they were released from their duties, their concessions would be met, and their demands heard.

But then he had said one simple word, one word that would completely shutdown these rebellious soldiers. Citizens. He’d called the soldiers, citizens. He’d given all of what they wanted to them, but chose to call them citizens instead of comrades or soldiers. Their prides wounded, they begged for Caesar to take them back, wanting to fight under his banner once more. A soldier’s pride is a fragile thing, especially a Roman Soldier.

Thus we finally come to 44 BC, the bloody end to Caesar’s rule. March 15th, on both the Julien calendar and the Gregorian calendar. Careful months of planning led to the demise of Julius Caesar. Lured in by his fellow senators, and led by senators Brutus and Cassius. It is unknown how many were armed with the knives that had killed Caesar, as many of 22 has been estimated, but the numbers could be inflated in telling. The famous line, “Et tu, Brute?” (“And you,  Brutus?”) was said to be Caesar’s final words, as he spoke to Brutus, highlighting his betrayal.

The murder backfired on the Senators.  Multiple civil wars sprouted because of the assassination, taking many years of pillaging and fighting until a new ruler was named. Because of this historic chain of events, the Ides of March is thought to be a day of bad-luck.