The news as it happened.
The Ides of March
The murder of Julius Caesar in Rome and the days that followed, March 44 BC
Written from the ancient historians, with every claim cited.
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One issue each morning, starting with 13 March 44 BC.
- 13 March 44 BCCaesar makes ready to march against the ParthiansCaesar is making ready to leave for the Parthian war within days, and the Senate is called to Pompey’s hall for the Ides amid talk of a crown.
- 14 March 44 BCThe crown Caesar put by, and the two tribunes he brokeOn the day before the Ides the city recalls the crown Caesar put by and the tribunes he broke, prodigies are reported in the streets, and tonight he sups with Lepidus.
- The Ides of March, 44 BCCaesar stabbed to death in the Senate at Pompey’s hallCaesar was struck down by senators’ daggers in Pompey’s hall this morning; his killers hold the Capitol, Rome has barred its doors, and Antony and Lepidus are to give their answer tomorrow.
- 16 March 44 BCLepidus’s soldiers hold the Forum as Caesar’s friends call for vengeanceCaesar’s friends hold the Forum under arms and talk of vengeance; Brutus speaks to a silent crowd that turns on Cinna, a consul goes over to the Capitol, and Antony puts the killers’ fate to the Senate.
- 17 March 44 BCSenate lets Caesar’s killers go unpunished, and keeps all his actsThe Senate lets the men who killed Caesar go unpunished but keeps every act of Caesar in force; with the sons of Antony and Lepidus held as hostages, Brutus and Cassius come down from the Capitol and dine with Caesar’s friends.
- 18 March 44 BCSenate orders Caesar’s will read in public and a public funeralAt the demand of Caesar’s father-in-law Piso, and over Cassius’s objection, the Senate orders Caesar’s will read in public and gives him a public funeral; it thanks Antony for stopping a civil war, and provinces go to Brutus, Cassius and their party.
- 20 March 44 BCCaesar burned in the Forum, and the crowd turns on his killersCaesar’s will, adopting Octavius and leaving every citizen 300 sesterces, has the people longing for him as Antony reads his honours over the body and lifts his bloodied robe; they burn him in the Forum on a pyre of their own making, go with fire to the houses of Brutus and Cassius, and kill Helvius Cinna in mistake for the praetor.