Notable Romans Who Killed Julius Caesar

Brutus was by far the most famous assassin.BrutusBrutus is best known for Caesar’s last words to him: “Et tu, Brute?” or “And you, too, Brutus?” William Shakespeare adapted this.adaptedShakespeare adapted an ancient account of Caesar’s final words: “Kai su, teknon?” or “You, too, my child?” Greek. Some assume this means Brutus was Caesar’s illegitimate son because his mother, Servilia, was Caesar’s mistress—but teknonwas just a term of endearment.

Who was Brutus to Caesar? Besides being his mistress’s son, Brutus was one of Caesar’s protégés. Brutus also may have resented Caesar for taking too much power and making his great-nephew, Octavian, his adopted son and heir. Brutus’s family strongly opposed tyranny, and Cassius pushed him to join.

After Caesar’s murder, times became dangerous. Brutus and Cassius fought Antony and Octavian. Brutus went to Greece to survive; he liked visiting Athens and enjoyed philosophy. Brutus bought soldiers in Macedonia and even he minted his own coins. Brutus and Cassius joined forces, and the fight ended at Philippi in 42 BCE. After losing, Brutus killed himself, though Plutarch admits a friend might have held the sword Brutus used to stab himself.

Thisformer pal of Caesar’swas one of the first the Terrible Trio added to their plot. Caesar rewarded Trebonius for his service, but it was not enough for this ambitious man. On the Ides, notesAppian, “The conspirators had left Trebonius, one of their number, to talk with Antony at the door.”

After the act, Trebonius, who won the Siege of Massilia for Caesar, got a big reward, becoming proconsul in Asia. But he faced trouble. While in Smyrna, Asia Minor, Trebonius offendedDolabella, another Caesar supporter who turned traitor, by not letting him into the city. Because of this, Dolabella putTrebonius on trial for treason and then had himmurderedin his bed. Soldiers did not treat his body well, saysAppian: “They rolled his head from one to another in sport along the city pavements like a ball till it was completely crushed.”

Though he once backed Pompey, Cassius eventuallybecame a supporter of Caesar. Classicist Barry StrausswroteinThe Death of Caesar, "Like many other Romans, Cassius was appalled by Caesar’s monarchical behavior."

Cassius wanted the highest offices, but he saw Caesar blocking his path. Caesar did not give him a command against the Parthians, may have had an affair with Cassius’s wife, Tertia, and when Cassius planned to bring lions to Rome for hissponsored games, Caesar took the felines for himself. During the assassination, Cassius stabbedCaesar in the face.

Cassius and Brutus met Antony and Octavian at Philippi, where they lost. Strauss wrote that when he saw Brutus’s forces gone from the field, he “had a freedman decapitate him.” Brutus felt deep sadness over his pal’s death.Plutarch said this.He mourned Cassius’s body and called him ‘the last of the Romans,’ suggesting a high spirit could not return to the city. He buried Cassius on Thasos island and kept fighting until he killed himself.

This.Decimus fought with Caesar's friend Antony at Actium; they lost to Caesar's heir Octavian. This hurt him later.

Augustus (Octavian) had one of his adoptive father's killers killed under a religious excuse, but he also...he took revenge.Caesar died in that process. While building Antony’s fleet, Turullius cut down...parts of a grove.Valerius Maximus says this grove was sacred to the god Aesculapius. At that time, Antony was beaten in battle, Maximus says. Augustus ordered Turullius executed, and Aesculapius dragged the sacrilegious man into the grove he defiled. To match the crime, Maximus states, “The god made sure that Augustus’ soldiers killed him there instead of elsewhere.”

This Brutus was less famous than his cousin (see number three on this list), but he helped plan the plot to kill Caesar. Julius's protégé, Decimus, acted like Caesar's younger brother, his...Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus had a right hand.He conquered Gaul.

He turned against Caesar because his mentor did not reward him properly and took the role of dictator, especially after Caesar suggested he might not name young Decimus his heir. During the assassination build-up, Decimus was with Julius 24/7, showing his state of mind. Decimus convinced...Caesar to go to the Senate house the day of the assassination after he received bad signs.Caesar went to the Senate house the day of the assassination after receiving bad omens.

After the assassination, Decimus's career dropped. He disguised himself as a Gaul. Marc Antony eventually...a Gallic chief to kill Decimus and send his head, which he later buried. This was a shameful end for a smart statesman.A Gallic chieftain decapitated Decimus and sent him the head. Decimus buried it. This was an ignominious end for a brilliant statesman.

Among the men lined up to kill Caesar, Publius Servilius Casca was first. He aimed for Caesar’s throat, according to Appian,Appian reported this.a sad moment between Casca, his brother, and Caesar: “At almost the same instant both cried out, the smitten man in Latin: 'Accursed Casca, what does thou?' and the smiter, in Greek, to his brother: 'Brother, help!'"Appian recorded this.Casca and his brother Caesar shared a heartbreaking moment: "At almost the same instant both cried out in Latin: 'Accursed Casca, what does thou?' and in Greek, the smiter cried to his brother: 'Brother, help!'"

Casca became Tribune of the People, but like other plotters, he did not last long. He...Casca committed this act.Casca committed suicide with his brother after Philippi.

While serving under Caesar in Gaul, Minucius...Minucius Basilus aimed to crush the rebel Ambiorix. Ambiorix fled, and Minucius himself got attacked. Caesar recounts this in "The Gallic Wars."Minucius Basilus aimed to crush the rebel Ambiorix. Ambiorix fled, and Minucius himself got attacked. Caesar recounts this in "The Gallic Wars."The Gallic WarsIt was close, but Minucius failed. Caesar also gave Minucius money for a job as a provincial governor, which Strauss says would have been very profitable. That was an insult to a man of senatorial rank. During Caesar's murder, an...stintedStrauss says Caesar gave Minucius money for a job as a provincial governor, which would have been extremely lucrative. That was an insult to a man of senatorial rank. During the murder of Caesar, an...over-eagerMinucius made a lunge at Caesar. He struck Rubrius on the thigh.

How did Minucius meet his end?Appian reports this., Minucius Basilius was killed around the same time as Decimus. "About the same time Minucius Basilius, another of Caesar's murderers, was killed by his slaves, some of whom he was mutilating by way of punishment."

There is little important data on Quintus Antistius Labeo, also known as Pacuvius, except in Plutarch’sLife of BrutusLabeo helps Brutus choose which prominent Romans to add to the conspiracy. After the assassination, Labeo stayed loyal to Brutus. Plutarch states plainly, “Labeo was his legate.”

Labeo’s end was his real legacy. He dug his own grave and sorted his affairs..."Then, taking his most faithful slave by the right hand and whirling him around, as the Roman custom for granting freedom requires, he gave him a sword as he turned and showed him his throat. His tent became his tomb."writesAppian.

Gaius Casca, who hit Caesar first, was Servilius's brother and the second to stab Julius.Nicolaus of Damascus says this., Servilius "called to his brother, speaking in Greek in his excitement," asking him to join the "fun." Gaius "obeyed him and drove his sword into Caesar's side," hitting another blow. That one,whichhit Caesar in the ribs, might have been the one to kill him.

Of all the conspirators,this CassiusCassius may have had the happiest ending. After Brutus and Cassius Longinus died,Appian says, Parmensis still had a command from his dead friends to “[gather a] fleet and an army to collect money” in Asia. He kept thirty ships from Rhodes and burned the rest, but two men named Clodius and Turulius (who was very rich) joined him. Appian says, "To this fleet, which was now quite powerful, flocked those serving in various parts of Asia and manned the ships with soldiers, slaves, prisoners, and island inhabitants as rowers." They sailed to the Adriatic and met more friends there.

Later, he allied himself with Sextus Pompey, son of Pompey the Great... another bad idea. After the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE, Octavianhad him killed.ConcludesVelleius, "The last of Caesar's assassins to pay the penalty of death was Cassius of Parma, as Trebonius had been the first."According to Valerius Maximus, Cassius had a bad dream about a demon. Soon after, Augustus sent men to kill him.

Cassius Parmensis lived thirteen years after Caesar's death. His reputation as a writer continues today.He wrote two tragedies: Thyestes and Brutus.ThyestesThyestesandBrutusOctavian disliked him. Suetonius states he called Octavian bad names.tauntedAugustus wrote, 'Your mother's meal came from a vulgar bakeshop of Aricia; this a money-changer from Nerulum kneaded into shape with hands stained with filthy lucre.'

Cimber got the governorship of Pontus and Bithynia in 44 BCE. Caesar did not pardon Cimber’s exiled brother, a supporter of Pompey. This angered Cimber.

On the day of the assassination,Suetonius reports, Cimber grabbed Caesar's toga to place him in a prime stabbing position. Caesar yelled, “Why, this is violence!” Cimber then fled toBithyniain Asia Minor, the province Caesar assigned him. Appian says, and adds that Cimber aided Brutus and Cassius in Macedonia. Cimber's death is not recorded, but he likely died at the great fight atCimber helped Brutus and Cassius in Macedonia. Records do not show Cimber's death, but he likely died at the big blow-out atPhilippi

Lucius Cornelius Cinna did not directly participate in Caesar's murder, but Cinna was close to Caesar and helped stir up trouble against Julius. Cinna was near Caesar; Cinna's sister, Cornelia, married Caesar. He likely enjoyed his in-law's loyalty to hissister, whom Caesar refused to let go of despite strong encouragement. Caesar even helped bring Cinna Jr. out of exile.

Times changed.The daybefore Caesar's murder, Cinna gave a harsh speech against Julius, and the public remembered. People either thought Cinna might have caused trouble or were simply angry. A mob ran through the city and grabbed a man named Cinna—but they caught the wrong one. Instead of Cornelius Cinna, they killed a poet named Helvius Cinna.

Strauss statesCaesar insulted Galba’s military skills in hisThe Gallic Warsby saying his subordinate “nearly cost his legion their lives in eastern Gaul…in winter 57-56 B.C.[E.]” This disagreement involved Galba's lack of readiness before the war. Many arguments followed, concerning Galba's lost consulship in 49 BCE or debts, pushing him against Caesar.

Though Galba was not completely mad, he must have been slightly unhinged to join such a large plot. Blind ambition ran in the family: His descendant,Emperor Galba,ruled for seven months in 68-69 A.D.

Aquila did not support Caesar. Once, when Caesar received public honors, Aquila did not rise. This caused several days of taunting for poor Aquila.Suetonius writes in hisLife of CaesarCaesar retorted, "Come then, Aquila, take back the republic from me, you tribune"; and for several days he would not make a promise to anyone without adding, "That is, if Pontius Aquila will allow me."

Cassius Dio describes Aquila after assisting in the assassination.Pontius Aquila describes the siege of Mutina.Aquila was one of Caesar's slayers and a lieutenant of Decimus. He defeated Plancus Bursa, a former Caesar supporter who became Antony's lieutenant, in battle. After that, Gaius Asinius Pollo says this.an orator and politician, in a letter to Cicero, stated that "Pontius Aquila perished" at the The siege of Mutina occurred.Antony and Octavian fought between them.

Ligarius fought for Pompey against Caesar. As a result, he was Quintus Ligarius was banished.from Italy. Eventually, Cicero got Caesar to allow Ligarius to return, but Ligarius remained angry.Life of BrutusPlutarch writes about him.Quintus Ligarius observes things.: "This man, cherishing no gratitude for his pardon, but rather offended by the power which put his life in danger, was an enemy of Caesar, and one of Brutus's most familiar friends." Ligarius did not enter Caesar's affections; Apparently, this happened.Old wounds ran too deep.

No one knows what happened to Ligarius.His brothers died in the proscriptions, though.