Experts in ancient Roman history and archaeology discuss the aftermath of Julius Caesar's assassination, including the division and civil war that ensued. They explore the mistakes made by the conspirators, Mark Antony's role, the consequences of Caesar's funeral, and the ultimate downfall of Brutus and Cassius in battle against Antony's superior military strategy.
The assassination of Julius Caesar led to a new era in Roman coinage with the introduction of the Idma denarius of Brutus, symbolizing the liberation of the state from Caesar's tyranny.
The conspiracy to assassinate Julius Caesar unraveled quickly, leading to a civil war as Mark Antony and Octavian formed an alliance to control Rome, ultimately resulting in the defeat of Brutus and Cassius.
Deep dives
The Idma denarius of Brutus
The Idma denarius of Brutus, an ancient Roman coin, represents an important shift in Roman coin design. It features Brutus' portrait on one side and the iconic image of the Pileus, the cap of liberty, on the reverse side. The coin also includes two daggers referring to the assassination of Julius Caesar. This coin marked the beginning of a new era in Roman coinage, influenced by Caesar's precedent of including his own portrait on coins. The message conveyed by the coin was not subtle, symbolizing the liberation of the state from the tyranny of Caesar.
The breakdown of the conspirators' plan
The plan of the conspirators who assassinated Julius Caesar quickly unraveled after his death. Initially, they intended to address the senators, march through Rome, and seek support from true Romans on the Capitoline Hill. However, they failed to win over Caesar's soldiers, who needed more incentives and better treatment. Mark Antony played a significant role in turning public sentiment against the conspirators by orchestrating a spectacular funeral for Caesar, inciting the crowd against them. The conspiracy ultimately led to a civil war, as Mark Antony and Octavian formed an alliance to control the Roman state, leaving Brutus and Cassius with no option but to flee.
The rise of Octavian and the fate of the conspirators
Gaius Octavius, also known as Octavian and Caesar's great nephew, emerged as a formidable player in the aftermath of Caesar's assassination. Despite initially being underestimated due to his young age, Octavian proved to be a political genius and garnered support by offering raises to Caesar's soldiers. He formed an alliance with Mark Antony and successfully defeated the conspirators in a battle in Greece. Cassius' premature suicide and Brutus' defeat in another battle led to their demise. Octavian, now a key figure in Roman politics, would go on to play a significant role in the future of the Roman Empire.
The deed is done, but the battle is far from over. In episode five of our new series on Julius Caesar’s rise and fall, Rob Attar is joined by Professor Philip Freeman, Professor Barry Strauss and Dr Volker Heuchert to plunge into the aftermath of Caesar’s murder as the dictator’s former allies and enemies go to war over the future of Rome.
The HistoryExtra podcast is produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine.