Assassination of Julius Caesar

The assassination of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March, 44 BC, was the killing of the Roman dictator by a group of senators, an act that plunged Rome into civil war and ended the Republic.

Key Takeaways

• Caesar was stabbed to death by senators fearing his concentration of power.
• The conspirators hoped to restore the Republic but triggered its final collapse.
• Caesar's heir Octavian (Augustus) ultimately became Rome's first emperor.

Location: Theatre of Pompey, Rome

On the Ides of March, 44 BC, a conspiracy of senators surrounded Julius Caesar at the Theatre of Pompey and stabbed him to death. They styled themselves liberators, hoping to restore the Roman Republic.

Instead, the killing unleashed a new round of civil wars from which Caesar’s heir, Octavian, emerged as Augustus, the first Roman emperor — the very outcome the conspirators had sought to prevent.

Outcome

Caesar's death; renewed civil war; rise of Augustus and the Empire.

Significance

Far from restoring the Republic, the assassination accelerated its collapse into one-man rule.

Key Figures

Julius Caesar

95

Military Leader · 100 BC – 44 BC

Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman whose conquest of Gaul and victory in civil war made him dictator of Rome, ending the Republic and paving the way for the Empire.

• Conquest of Gaul
• Crossing the Rubicon

Frequently Asked Questions

Who assassinated Julius Caesar?

A group of about 60 Roman senators, including Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus, assassinated Caesar on 15 March 44 BC.

What happened after Julius Caesar was assassinated?

Rather than restoring the Republic, the assassination led to renewed civil war and the rise of Caesar's heir Augustus as the first Roman emperor.