Julius Caesar: Hero or Villain

In the determination of whether Julius Caesar was an intelligent, political hero or an egocentric, dictating villain, it is important to look at all of the facts. Born in 100 B.C.E. and assassinated in 44 B.C.E., Julius Caesar was legendary. He along Pompey, and Crassus created the first unofficial Triumvirate which was negotiated to appease both the Roman citizens and the power hungry rivals. Still, this agreement would not last long. After Pompey’s wife, Julia Caesar and daughter of Caesar’s daughter given to Pompey to establish the Trimvirate, dies in childbirth, civil war breaks out as Caesar leads his army against Rome. He fights until Pompey is murdered in Egypt. As Rome is “shattered,” Julius Caesar one person should rule. He avoids having a monarchy by becoming a dictator instead of a king. Although his intentions seem honorable, he controls the government and the elections. However; he makes changes to ensure financial stability of Rome and is able to make allies with enemies by showing grace instead of vengeance. Conversely, some people still saw him as a traitor for taking side with the common people. This elitist group felt that Julius Caesar needed to be stopped and decided to take action. Referring to three primary sources on the actions taken, it is important to analyze these writings to decide if Julius Caesar was attributed to being a heroic politician or a villainous dictator by how they interpret the assassinations.

The faction of elitists that were against Julius Caesar were a group of senators lead by “Marcus Brutus (85-42 B.C.E) a former friend of Caesar. In memory of his Ancestors who 500 years early got rid of the Monarch that Julius Caesar position to them resembled. They decided that they need to ki...

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...reas the book explains only the prime events evenly.

Works Cited

Lynn Hunt, Thomas R. Martin, Barbara h. Rosenwein, R. Pochia Hsia and Bonnie G. Smith. The Making Of The West: Peoples And Cultures, Volume 1: to 1740. 4th ed., Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012.

Plutarch. “The Assassination of Julius Caesar,from Marcus Brutus (excerpts).” Translated by John Dryden. Reproduced by Internet Ancient History Sourcebook. August 2000. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/plutarch-caesar.asp (Accessed 25 May 2014)

“The Assassination of Julius Caesar, 44 BC.” Eyewitness to History. 2004. http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/caesar2.htm (accessed 25 May 2014).

Tranquillus,Gaius Suetonius. Lives of the 12 Caesars. Translated by Joseph Gavorse. Reproduced by Livus: Article of Ancient History http://www.livius.org/caa-can/caesar/caesar_t09.html (accessed 25 May 2014)