History Shorts: Caesar Assassinated (44 B.C.)

Julius Caesar won his civil war against Pompey the Great and the Optimates. After asserting his power, the Senate voted Caesar dictator for life. To many, this reeked of monarchy. In response, a group of senators led by Cato, Cassius, and Brutus led a coup and murdered the dictator. Initially, Caesar’s allies were cowed into silence. However, when it became obvious that the conspirators had no plans to extend the bloodshed beyond Caesar, and made no provisions to take power, Mark Anthony rallied Rome’s mob and the Caesarians against Brutus. This had the practical effect of launching another civil war. After defeating the republicans, Anthony and Caesar’s nephew, Octavian, engaged in still another civil war for power.

The first link is from HBO’s Rome. The second is from Shakespeare (1979). The final link is also from Shakespeare and features Mark Anthony’s funeral oration performed by Marlon Brando.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FvgP5hO99o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H-Kztt6WpM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KScBmX1d-YU