In the complex web of history, certain dates bear a weight that extends beyond their calendrical significance. One such date is the Ides of March and Julius Caesar – a date that changed Roman History (and probably world history too).
The Roman calendar, a fascinating system that laid the foundation for our modern understanding of time, was a complex interplay of months divided into distinctive sections. From its roots in the Roman calendar to its immortalization in Shakespeare’s works, the Ides of March has a story worth exploring. This blog will shed some light on why it’s called the Ides of March and what makes this date more than just a mark on the calendar.
Firs thing first, the man who made the Ides of March famous: Julius Caesar.
Who was Julius Caesar?
Julius Caesar, one of ancient Rome’s most renowned figures, was a statesman, military general, and author who played a pivotal role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire. Born into a prominent family, Caesar rose to prominence through his political acumen and military prowess. His military campaigns, particularly his conquest of Gaul, solidified his reputation as a brilliant commander.
Caesar’s political career saw him rise to the position of consul and later dictator, wielding unprecedented power in Rome. He implemented significant reforms, including the Julian calendar, which became the basis for the modern calendar.
What does the Ides of March related to Julius Caesar mean?
To best understand what is Ides of March related to Julius Caesar, let’s first learn a bit about the Ancient Roman calendar and where the word “ides” comes from.
Among Ancient Rome’s calendar divisions were the Kalends, Nones, and Ides, each holding its own significance in the ancient Roman world.
The Kalends – A Fresh Start:
At the dawn of each Roman month stood the Kalends, marking the first day of the month and symbolizing a new beginning. The term “Kalends” is derived from the Latin word “Kalendae“, signifying the start of the lunar cycle. Romans celebrated the Kalends with various religious observations and rituals, setting the tone for the month ahead.
The Nones – A Mid-Early Month Milestone:
Approximately a week before the Ides, the Nones played a crucial role in dividing the month into distinctive phases. Falling on the 7th day in March, May, July, and October, and on the 5th day in other months, the Nones served as a midpoint between the Kalends and the Ides. Although not as well-known as the Ides, the Nones carried its own significance in the Roman calendar.
The Ides – Mid Month
The most famous of the Roman calendar divisions, the Ides, marked the middle of the month and brought with it a sense of caution. In March, May, July, and October, the Ides fell on the 15th day, while in other months, it occurred on the 13th day.
The term “Ides” itself comes from the Latin word “idus“, which is believed to have originally meant “to divide“. The Romans designated the Ides as the 13th day for most months. This date, the 74th in the Roman calendar, carried weight beyond numerical count. It signified not only a midpoint in the month but also held importance in settling debts in Rome and marked several religious observances.
Ides of March Religious Observances
Romans tied the Ides to the lunar calendar, originally determined by the full moon. Early on, the Ides of March coincided with the first full moon of the new year. Religiously, the Ides of each month held a sacred status, particularly devoted to Jupiter, the supreme deity of Roman mythology. The Flamen Dialis, Jupiter’s high priest, orchestrated rituals involving the “Ides sheep“, leading a procession along the Via Sacra to the arx for sacrifice.
Noteworthy festivities accompanied the Ides of March, including the Feast of Anna Perenna, a celebration of the goddess of the year. Among the common people, the day unfolded with picnics, drinking, and revelry. The Mamuralia observed on the Ides of March, featured a ritualistic beating of an old man dressed in animal skins, possibly symbolizing the expulsion of the old year.
In the later Imperial period, the Ides marked the beginning of a “holy week“, featuring festivals dedicated to Cybele and Attis. Rituals such as Canna intrat and Arbor intrat commemorated the birth and death of Attis, culminating in a celebration of his rebirth on 25 March, aligning with the vernal equinox on the Julian calendar.
Beware of the Ides of March on the 15th
The infamous legacy of the Ides of March reached its zenith in 44 BCE with the shocking assassination of Julius Caesar. William Shakespeare’s immortal warning, “Beware the Ides of March“, encapsulates the historical gravity of this date.
The Legacy of the Ides of March: the Assassination of Julius Caesar
The Ides of March, a date that resonates throughout history, carries the weight of a defining moment in ancient Rome. The dramatic events that unfolded on this fateful day in 44 BCE have left a significant mark in history, turning the Ides of March into more than just a calendrical reference. At its core lies the shocking assassination of Julius Caesar, orchestrated by a group of Roman senators.
The Political Landscape of Ancient Rome:
To understand the motivations behind Caesar’s assassination, we must first navigate the complex political landscape of ancient Rome. Julius Caesar, a military genius and charismatic statesman, had risen to power from proconsul to declareing himself dictator perpetuo (“dictator in perpetuity“). Effectively he was concentrating power in his hands and it made key players in Rome’s political landscape suspicious. This move, coupled with his ambitious reforms, grated against the traditional power structures of the Roman Republic. Concerns over a potential shift towards monarchy (remember that the Roman Republic was born after Romans ousted its last King and established a Republic).
Why was Julius Caesar assassinated?
Julius Caesar’s assassination stemmed from a complex interplay of factors. Among them were the apprehensions harbored by sections of the Roman elite regarding his growing authority, which was propelled by his remarkable military successes. In Gaul, Caesar famously defeated the Gallic tribes under Vercingetorix. In his subsequent expansion of Roman territory, Caesar instilled fear among senators and aristocrats about his ambitions for absolute power.
Additionally, his triumph in the civil war against Pompey Magnus, his victory over Marcus Licinius Crassus at the Battle of Carrhae. His defeat of Gnaeus Pompeius the Younger and the Pompeian faction at the Battle of Munda solidified his reputation as a formidable military leader. These victories further fueled concerns that Caesar aimed to establish himself as a monarch. This became more pronounced as he dismantled the authority of the Senate and assumed the title of dictator perpetuo (dictator in perpetuity).
Moreover, his conflicts with prominent figures like Lucius Cornelius Sulla and Cato the Younger exacerbated tensions within the Roman political establishment. In response to these perceived threats to the Republic, a group of conspirators, viewing Caesar’s assassination as imperative to preserving the traditional balance of power. They ultimately orchestrated his demise in a bid to thwart the emergence of monarchical rule.
Eerie Prophecies: Caesar’s Ominous Warnings on the Ides of March
In the tumultuous days leading up to Julius Caesar’s demise in 44 BCE, ominous signs and chilling premonitions swirled around the Roman dictator. Among those who forewarned Caesar of impending danger was Spurinna, a respected haruspex renowned for his divination skills. Unlike mystical depictions suggest, Spurinna’s caution to Caesar was rooted in astute judgment rather than mere prophecy.
The incident unfolded on February 15, 44 BCE, when a sacrificial ritual revealed a harrowing omen—”a bull devoid of a heart”. Subsequent auguries only deepened the sense of foreboding, prompting Spurinna to alert Caesar to potential peril looming over the next 30 days, culminating on the Ides of March.
Crucially, Caesar’s impending departure for a military campaign on March 18 lent a tangible urgency to Spurinna’s warning. It underscored the pragmatic realities underlying the haruspex’s counsel, emphasizing the pressing need for any plot against Caesar to unfold before his departure.
Adding to the air of foreboding was Ceaesar’s wife Calpurnia who had a haunting premonition the night before the assassination. Her dream, depicting Caesar wounded and dying in her arms, stirred deep distress within her. Urged by Calpurnia’s plea to heed the ominous signs, Caesar initially chose to abstain from attending the Senate meeting.
However, the intervention of Decimus Junius Brutus, a close confidant and covert conspirator, swayed Caesar’s resolve. Despite his misgivings and Calpurnia’s premonitions, Caesar ultimately yielded to Brutus’s persuasion and proceeded to the Senate. This pivotal decision set the stage for the tragic events that unfolded on the infamous Ides of March.
The Ides of March: The Day That Shattered Rome
March 15, 44 BC, marked a pivotal moment in Roman history, unfolding amidst the grandeur of the Senate within the Theatre of Pompey. Unlike the customary setting of Senate meetings in the Roman Forum, Caesar’s influence on the city’s reconstruction led to gatherings in diverse venues.
As Caesar arrived, a group of conspirators, led by Lucius Tillius Cimber, approached him under the guise of presenting a petition. Disregarding their appeals, Caesar was suddenly assaulted. The first blow came from Casca, targeting his neck, triggering a frenzied onslaught by the conspirators. Despite a brief struggle, Caesar succumbed to the relentless attack, enduring 23 stab wounds on the lower steps of the portico.
The circumstances surrounding Caesar’s final moments remain a subject of historical conjecture. While some narratives attribute poignant last words to him, such as the infamous “Et tu, Brute?” expressing betrayal towards Brutus, others suggest he met his end in stoic silence. Nevertheless, Brutus’s attempt to address the fleeing senators and proclaim freedom to Rome’s populace fell upon deaf ears, as the city descended into an eerie silence, its citizens retreating into seclusion upon learning of Caesar’s assassination.
The Aftermath of Ides of March that Changed Rome Forever
After Caesar’s assassination on the Ides of March, the conspirators fled, leaving his body untouched. Eventually, slaves carried his body home. This event marked a turning point in Roman history, leading to the end of the Republic and the rise of the Roman Empire under Octavian.
The murder of Julius Caesar sent shockwaves through Rome, setting off a chain of events that reshaped the trajectory of the empire. Rather than restoring the Republic, as some conspirators had hoped, Caesar’s death led to significant upheaval. It sparked civil wars that culminated in the ascension of Octavian, Caesar’s nephew and adopted heir, who later became Emperor Augustus in 27 BC, effectively ending the Roman Republic.
Under Augustus’s rule, Caesar’s assassination took on symbolic and sacrilegious significance. Caesar’s roles as the pontifex maximus of Rome and a priest of Vesta added a religious dimension to the event. In retaliation for Caesar’s death, Augustus executed 300 senators and equites on the fourth anniversary of the assassination. This brutal act was seen as a religious sacrifice, occurring on the Ides of March at an altar dedicated to the deified Julius Caesar. These events further cemented the Ides of March as a pivotal moment in the transition from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire.
Shakespeare’s Ides of March and Julius Caesar
Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” captures the intrigue and betrayal of the Ides of March, immortalizing this historic event for centuries to come. Through famous lines like “Beware the Ides of March“, Shakespeare adds depth and emotion to the narrative, making it a symbol of power’s fragility and the consequences of political maneuvering.
Where was Julius Caesar Assassinated?
Julius Caesar met his tragic end at the Curia of Pompey, located within the current bustling Largo di Torre Argentina. This site, steeped in archaeological and historical significance, draws tourists, historians, and archaeologists alike. Its name originates from Argentoratum, a Roman outpost in modern-day Strasbourg.
Constructed in three phases, the Curia of Pompey was commissioned by the renowned Roman general Pompey to commemorate his military conquests. It encompassed a theater area with a temple, stage, and seating, along with a portico housing Pompey’s treasures and the Curia itself.
During Caesar’s rule, the Roman Senate temporarily convened in the Curia of Pompey after their original meeting place burned down in 52 BCE. Caesar’s planned replacement, the Curia Julia, was still under construction when he met his demise at the Curia of Pompey’s base. The senators, fearing for the republic, believed Caesar’s assassination was necessary, yet it ultimately led to the republic’s downfall.
Largo di Torre Argentina
After Caesar’s death, the Curia of Pompey was sealed, possibly set ablaze, and eventually buried under Rome’s expansion.
Its existence remained hidden until the 1930s when Mussolini’s excavation efforts uncovered it, along with four temples. Today, the remnants are visible in Largo di Torre Argentina, an open space in Rome with historical significance. The square’s name honors the tower, associated with Papal Master of Ceremonies Johannes Burckhardt, who hailed from Strasbourg, then known as “Argentinus“. Burckardt’s palace, Casa del Burcardo, constructed in 1503, stands nearby, connecting the square to Strasbourg’s Latin name, “Argentina.”
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Learn more about the life of Julius Caesar until the Ides of March
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