Caesar and Cicero

The Deaths of Caesar

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Vincenzo Camuccini, Cesar Sa Mort (1798)

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Jean-Leon Gerome, Death of Caesar (1867)
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Death of Caesar, from video series Empire, (2005)
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Death of Caesar, from video series Rome, (2005)
The assassination of GAIVS IVLIVS CAESAR took place on 15 March 710 A.U.C in the Curia of Pompey’s Theatre. This was the temporary meeting place of the Senate, since the favored location, The Curia Hostilla had burnt down and was being reconstructed, which would become known as the Curia Jullia.
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The interior of the Curia Julia today (from Flickr)
After the event two thousand and fifty years ago, Cicero wrote to L. Minucius Basilus:

I congratulate you. I am wild with delight. I love you and am watching over your interests. I want you to send me in return your love and an account of what you are doing and of all that is going on.

This was a note sent in excitement to Basilus, who would be killed by one of his slaves the following year, who he had punished with mutilation. Basilus had been a solider under Caesar in Gaul, and expected a province to be given him by the dictator. Caesar instead paid him what must have been a large sum of money, and this soured him against the Tyrant and so he joined the conspiracy.

Two days later (on the 17th) Cicero writes to Brutus and Cassius

I learned yesterday evening from Hirtius that Antony is disposed to play us false, pretending that the hostility of the soldiers and of the mob makes it unsafe for us to stay in Rome. So I have applied for liberae legationes for us, but do not expect to get them and fear the worst. So I think we should retire into exile, as we cannot well resort to force, having no rallying point. Let me know your views and where to meet you.

PS After a second talk with Hirtius I determined to ask leave for us to live in Rome with a guard.

The Roman Mob, which made it unsafe for the Conspirators, had burned the site of the deed, although it is not clear when exactly this took place. The transformation of the Hostilla into the Julia wouldn’t be complete for another fifteen years.

The Addresses of Cicero

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Cicero Denounces Catiline, fresco by Cesare Maccari, (1882-1888)
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Cicero announces Octavian, from video series Rome (2007)