- In February 44 BC, Julius Caesar made himself dictator for life. This, in effect, made him the king of Rome
- Only one month later, on the 15th March, he was assassinated in the forum by a group of Senators who, along with many other Romans, objected to one man holding so much power
- They believed that Rome should return to being a Republic ruled by the Senate
- After Caesar's murder, however, Rome remained under the control of Caesar's supporters, the leaders of the assassins, Gaius Cassius and Marcus Junius Brutus, escaped to the Eastern provinces
- Leadership was taken up by the 'Second Triumvirate' of Rome, an agreement to share political power between three men who had been close allies of Caesar
- Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony) had been Caesar's lieutenant and friend, Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus (Octavian) was Caesar's great-nephew and adopted son, and Marcus Lepidus had been one of Caesar's deputies
- The three men and their armies pursued Cassius and Brutus and defeated them at the battle of Philippi in Macedonia
- Cassius and Brutus afterwards committed suicide
Summary:
- What type of government did Rome have in 44 BC? A dictatorship
- What is the meaning of the Ides of March? The middle of the month (the 15th) - the day that Caesar was assassinated
- Why did the Senators murder Caesar? They didn't want one man to have all the power
- Did the Senators get their wish? No, because Rome remained under the control of other powerful leaders
- Who were the leaders of Caesar's assassins? Cassius and Brutus
- Who were the members of the Second Triumvirate of Rome? Mark Antony, Octavian and Lepidus
- What relationship did they have with Caesar? Lieutenant and friend, adopted son, and deputy
- What happened at the battle of Philippi? Cassius and Brutus were defeated
- What was the fate of the leaders of Caesar's assassins? They committed suicide
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