Posted on 03/15/2006 8:41:19 AM PST by Cato Uticensis
Today marks an important milestone in the history of freedom loving people everywhere. On this day, March 15th (the Ides of the Roman calendar) in 44BC, Marcus Brutus, Gaius Cassius, Decimus Brutus, Gaius Trebonius and nineteen other Romans took the life of the Man Who Would Be King, Gaius Iulius Caesar. I have read the accounts that many make- that the assassins acted out of personal ambition, rather than an altruisitic desire to restore Republican freedom. And in some cases among the other nineteen, I don't doubt the strong possibility. But history doesn't dispute the disinterested idealism of Marcus Brutus.
For those who are interested in such things, Gaius Iulius Caesar was not an oil company baron. On the contrary, his politics were what we would call Leftist today. He was one of the "great champions of the poor" who asks for more power than the Constitution allows, ostensibly for the good of the people, NEVER for their personal advancement! (YEAH RIGHT!!)
Brutus was inspired by Cato Uticensis, his uncle, who had been a mentor and father-figure to him during his life. Cato had chosen to die at Utica in the wake of the deafeat of the Republican cause at the battle of Thapsus in 46 BC. He chose death rather than bowing down to the tyrant Caesar. Cato had been the heart and soul of the Republican cause from Caesar's crossing of the Rubicon in 49 BC. However Caesar, through his superior generalship, defeated the Republicans at Pharsalus in Greece (48 BC), Thapsus in North Africa (46 BC) and Munda in Spain (45 BC).
The plot to kill the tyrant came about after Munda. While the Republicans were holding in North Africa and later in Spain, there was always hope, hope for a restoration from Caesar's dictatorship. But after that last triumph for Gaius Iulius, there was no bright spot anywhere for those who wanted to have no King. Decimus Brutus, Gaius Trebonius and Gaius Cassius contrived the plot. Trebonius and Decimus Brutus had served as Generals in Caesar's Gallic War. When Caesar was a lawful General of the Republic, fighting external enemies, they were very much on his side. In the case of Decimus Brutus, he had even shared Caesar's Leftist politics in his youth. The plotters, "the Liberators", as they would call themselves after the deed was done, knew they needed Marcus Brutus involved, who was descended from that Brutus who drove out the last of the Kings from Rome, as well as Servilius Ahala (through his mother Servilia Caepionis) who had foiled the plot Spurius Maelius to become King. When sounded out, Marcus got on board.
Sneaking daggers into the Curia Pompeia (the Senate's meeting house), the Liberators at first pretended to beg Caesar for the recall of an exiled friend. While thus distracted, Casca, one of the Liberators, pulled his dagger and plunged it into Caesar's back. The others drew and Caesar died of 23 dagger thrusts.
I do not revell in bloodshed or the taking of human life. But the Liberators had no choice. One man was taking away the freedoms of all. Sadly, the cause of the Liberators did not endure. They came heart-wrenchingly close to full resotration of the Republic in the wake of the Battle of Mutina in April, 43 BC. But with the formation of the Second Triumvirate by Marcus Antonius, Gaius Octavius and Marcus Lepidus not long after, Civil War was to break out and the position in Italy was untenable for Republicans. The Triumvirate launched a bloody and brutal purge worthy of a Stalin in Italy. The great Orator, Cicero, was killed like a common street rat and his head and hand chopped off and put on display. This was done by Antonius because Cicero had dared criticize his policies in his famous Phillippics.
The Republican cause would fall at last at the Battle of Phillippi in 42 BC. No serious attempt at a Republic would come about until the Dutch Reform Calvinists of the 16th Century and the English Puritans of the 17th Century. Our Founding Fathers had to look back to Ancient Greece and Rome for Republican examples. Our Constitution is designed to prevent some Leftist like Caesar or Napoleon from seizing control. The Founding Fathers knew a Caesar would one day come.
So take a moment this March 15th. Honor those long dead Romans like Cato and Brutus (who greatly inspired men such as George Washington) who died fighting for freedom, and who pledged their lives and fortunes to make others free. We may one day need a Brutus in America.
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Thanks for the Ides article. We should remember it every 3/15.
"For Brutus is an honorable man."
There is also danger from the other end of the spectrum. But hey, what's a little Patriot Act extension here and a little Google-snooping there? The lust for power at the peoples' expense seems to act like an undeniable narcotic to those who believe themselves above Constitutional limitations - no matter which side of the aisle they lurk.
Thanks for the essay, Cato!
"The Roman Republic was dead as a doornail before Gaius crossed the Rubicon. And he wasn't the first general to invade Rome. Remember Sulla? Sulla proscribed and murdered huge numbers of opponents when he led his legions into Rome.He even forced a young Caesar to flee when he refused to divorce his wife. And the Senate did zip about Sulla."
Yes, Sulla was Dictator from 82 BC- 79 BC. His proscription was bloody. But Sulla was no King, he laid down his power and after his death, his Constitution fell apart. Even fellow members of his own Party remembered him with infamy for marching on Rome and for his bloody purge.
"You can dress up the noble Brutus any way you want. He had surrendered to Caesar after Pompey's defeat, pledged his loyalty, and was pardoned. He either broke his oath, or gave it falsely. If the latter, he'd make a good Moslem terrorist. If the former, he's not so noble.In either case, he was without honor."
Caesar ostensibly was still serving the Republic, so Brutus did not forswear himself in defending the Republic from Caesar. Caesar never officially crowned himself King (tho he certainly moved in that direction). Brutus never swore faith to any Caesar Kingship. Thus no fealty was owed.
"In any case, by the time Caesar made himself dictator for life, the Roman form of government was proving itself inefficient and increasingly incapable of governance."
I don't aruge that there was great inefficiency.
"Oh, by the bye, Brutus, Cassius and the boys weren't interested in saving Rome. They were interested in saving the power of the Roman Senate, their power."
History acknowledges Brutus was about saving the Republic. Many of the 23 were ambitious and after power. I said so in my article. The Senate was an important part of the Republic, as well as the Tribunes of the Plebs and the Centuriate Assemblies.
"And 20 plus knife wounds to kill an unarmed middle aged man speaks volumes about their "courage" "
what should they have done? Attacked him through his Legions? Caesar was a very nimble and vigorous 55 year old at the time. He was not a defenseless old man.
"Thanks for the essay, Cato!"
Thank you for your support, Alamo Gal! You're Aces!
Thank you for the encouragement! You're a wealth of information and counsel.
Bump!
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