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What were the consequences of Caesar's assassination

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__NOTOC__[[File: Ass of caesar one.jpg|300px|thumb|left|An 18th-century painting of Caesar’s assassination]]__NOTOC__
The assassination of Caesar was a turning point in the history of Rome, not only did it end the career of one of the most powerful Romans, but it also initiated a chain of events that changed the very nature of Rome and its Empire. Among the consequences of the assassination were a brutal civil war and the rise of Mark Anthony and Octavian. The death of Caesar on the Ides of March sent the Roman Republic into a crisis that ultimately led to its abolition and the emergence of the Imperial system.
After the battle, the Senate tried to take Octavian's army away and hand it over to one of Caesar's assassins.<ref> Suetonius, Lives of the Caesars, xxiv</ref> The Senate's miscalculation persuaded Octavian to enter an alliance with Anthony and Lepidus. This became the Second Triumvirate. The Triumvirate seized power and then divided the legions and provinces among the three men. The aim of the Triumvirate was to consolidate control of Rome and avenge the assassination of Caesar. They soon occupied Rome and launched a campaign of terror in the city, summarily killing their enemies. However, the ''Optimates'' and Caesar's assassins rejected the Triumvirate's authority and started a second civil war.<ref>Galinsky, Karl. <i>Augustan Culture</I>. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1998), p. 89</ref>
====The How did Augustus win the Civil War==against the Optimates? ==
Those who were involved in the assassination of Caesar were placed under the command of Cassius and Brutus. They controlled much of the eastern portion of the Empire. Antony and Octavian sailed with an army to confront their enemies and the two armies confronted each other at Phillipa in modern Macedonia or Northern Greece. The two armies clashed and after two decisive battles, the followers of Caesar prevailed. The battles had been closely fought and it was the personal bravery of Mark Anthony and the general Agrippa that ensured victory for the Second Triumvirate. The liberators and their ''Optimates'' allies all died in the battle or its aftermath.<ref> Suetonius, <i>Lives of the Caesar</i>, vii</ref> Brutus and Cassius committed suicide in the aftermath of the defeat.
The defeat at Philippi was decisive and it effectively ended the Optimates as a military force. The Senate was also effectively neutered by the Triumvirate's victory. Successive defeats and a series of proscriptions had decimated the old Republican elite and they lost most of their power. Those who wanted to preserve the old ideas of the Republic no longer had the means or perhaps even the will to prevent the concentration of power in the lands of one or two men.<ref>Osgood, p 227</ref> The assassination of Caesar was motivated by a desire to restore the old Republican system and restore the influence of the Senate. In essence, the assassination was a spectacular failure. Instead of restoring the republic, the old Roman Republic was destroyed.
====The What was the Second Triumvirate==? ==
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The Second Triumvirate saw the rise of Octavian and Mark Anthony, who became the most powerful man in Rome. Lepidus was decidedly the junior partner in the political arrangement. Octavian, Mark Anthony , and Lepidus divided the Roman Empire between them, but Anthony and Caesar's heir soon deftly side-lined Lepidus. Anthony assumed responsibility for the pacification of the east , which had become restive after the civil wars. Anthony successful successfully reimposed Roman control over the Eastern section of the Roman Empire. The A series of marriages sealed the relationship between Mark Anthony and Octavian was sealed by a series of marriages. However, in truth, the two men were never really allies , and both knew that there would be a day of reckoning. Still, the Second Triumvirate allowed Octavian and Mark Anthony to rule the Roman Empire.
Octavian was the real power in Rome , and he observed the forms of the Republican system.<ref>Holland, Tom, <i>Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic</i> (London, Anchor Books, 2003), p. 207 </ref> In the east, Mark Anthony began a relationship with the Ptolemaic Queen of Egypt, Cleopatra IV. For a brief period, the Roman territories were divided between Octavian who presented himself as a champion of old-fashioned Roman values and beliefs and Mark Anthony who seemed to be creating a personal domain for himself and Cleopatra in the east. For the entire duration of the Second Triumvirate, the Senate was subservient to Octavian and Anthony. The political arrangement between Anthony and Octavian that was made possible by the assassins who sought to preserve the Republic, did much to undermine the old system of governance and politics.<ref> Holland, p 298</ref>
====The Why did Rise of Octavian and the End of the Roman Republic==? ==
[[File: Ass of Augustus.jpg|200px|thumb|left| A statue of Augustus]]
Perhaps the most important result of the death of Caesar was the rise of his grand-nephew Octavian. He had not been particularly close to the great general and politician, but he was one of his last living male relatives. It seemed that the victor of so many battles saw something in the young man and Octavian was to prove his grand-uncle right. The death of Caesar cleared the way for the rise of Octavian and he was to prove to be one of the most calculating and brilliant politicians in the entire Roman era.<ref> Goldsworthy, Adrian. <i>Augustus: First Emperor of Rome</i> (Yale, Yale University Press, 2010), p. 213 </ref>
The young Octavian was able to manipulate the situation to make himself master of the Roman world. For example, he goaded Mark Anthony into a war and he defeated him at the Battle of Actium. This was to make him master of the entire Roman world. Octavian learned from the assassination of Caesar and he did not make the same mistakes as the legendary leader. He was very respectful to the Senators and observed all the procedures. This was to placate the sensibilities of the Roman aristocracy. Octavian made sure that he did not goad the senators’, but he also controlled them.<ref> Suetonius, Life of Augustus, cvii</ref> Caesar's heir slowly concentrated power into his own hands and created an Imperial system under the guise of a Republican system. He safeguarded his position by sharing power with the Senators and the rest of the Roman aristocracy. Many welcomed the stability that he offered and he governed the Empire wisely.
However, he was slowly undermining the Republican rule. OctavianCaesar's pre-eminence was confirmed when he was granted the title Augustus. The title of Augustus cemented heir slowly concentrated power into his hold on power own hands and allowed him to pass on his position to a designated heir. The Senate established the first Roman created an Imperial dynasty. For this, Augustus is regarded as the first Roman Emperor and system under the founder guise of an Imperial a Republican system. The assassins of Caesar simply paved He safeguarded his position by sharing power with the way for Senators and the rise rest of the man who was to quietly dismantle Roman aristocracy. Many welcomed the Republicstability that he offered and he governed the Empire wisely.<ref> Osgood, p. 452</ref>
==However, he was slowly undermining the Republican rule. Octavian's pre-eminence was confirmed when he was granted the title Augustus. The title of Augustus cemented his hold on power and allowed him to pass on his position to a designated heir. The Senate established the first Roman imperial dynasty. For this, Augustus is regarded as the first Roman Emperor and the founder of an Imperial system. The assassins of Caesar simply paved the way for the rise of the man who was to quietly dismantle the Republic.<ref> Osgood, p. 452</ref> ==Conclusion====The death of Caesar at the hands of aristocratic Romans had far-reaching consequences. It resulted in two civil wars and the rise of Mark Antony and Octavian. The adherents of the Caesarean party sided with Octavian and Mark Anthony. The liberators and their Senatorial allies did not want to replace Caesar with Octavian and Anthony. The Liberators were smashed at the Battle of Philippi and the Roman Republic would never return. The defeat at Philippi was effectively the end of the military power of those who sympathized with the old Republican system. Caesar's death allowed Mark Anthony and Octavian to partition the Empire between them.
While the empire was split between Anthony and Octavian, Octavian became the center of power in the Roman Empire. He was an effective ruler and did not repeat Casaer's mistakes. He created an imperial system while observing the outward form of the Republican system. As a result, he faced little opposition, even though he ended the Republic and crowned himself Emperor. The Imperial system created by Octavian lasted until 476 AD.
 
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====Additional Reading====
* Holland, Tom. [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400078970/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1400078970&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=a25657c34ca67cbf377bd8dfbc462c2c Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic] (London, Anchor Press, 2003)
* Goodman, Rob. ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1250042623/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1250042623&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=4c9157524f8c44ff12d67a6dff4613ad Rome's Last Citizen: The Life and Legacy of Cato: Mortal Enemy of Caesar]'' (St. Martin's Griffen, 2014)
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====References====

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