Who Killed Caesar

Julius Caesar was assassinated on March 15, 44 BC—the Ides of March—by a group of more than 60 Roman senators. The plot was led by Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus, who feared Caesar’s growing power threatened the Roman Republic.

Key Facts About Caesar's Assassination:
Location:
The attack occurred during a Senate meeting at the Curia of Pompey, a hall within the Theatre of Pompey in Rome.

The Assassins:
Though over 60 senators were involved, Brutus and Cassius were the most prominent. The conspirators viewed themselves as defenders of republican liberty. Caesar was stabbed 23 times, with historical accounts noting that many wounds may have been superficial—only one was fatal.

Motivations:
Caesar’s recent appointment as “dictator perpetuo” (dictator in perpetuity) alarmed many senators. They feared he intended to dismantle the Republic and establish a monarchy, violating Rome’s core political principles.

Aftermath:
Instead of restoring the Republic, Caesar’s murder plunged Rome into a series of civil wars. These conflicts eventually led to the rise of Octavian (Augustus) and the birth of the Roman Empire, ending centuries of republican government.

Summary:
Julius Caesar was killed by Roman senators, led by Brutus and Cassius, in a bid to stop him from becoming a tyrant. Ironically, his death accelerated the fall of the Republic they aimed to protect.