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The Ides of March14 March 44 BCIssue the Second

The crown Caesar put by, and the two tribunes he broke

Reconstructed from historical sources

On 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.

A silver denarius struck at Rome this January by the moneyer Marcus Mettius: Caesar's head crowned with a wreath and the words CAESAR DICT QVART (Caesar, dictator for the fourth time). On the other face, Juno Sospita in a galloping chariot.
A silver denarius struck at Rome this January by the moneyer Marcus Mettius: Caesar’s head crowned with a wreath and the words CAESAR DICT QVART (Caesar, dictator for the fourth time). On the other face, Juno Sospita in a galloping chariot.Photograph by Classical Numismatic Group (cngcoins.com), via Wikimedia Commons, Jan. 31, 44 BC · CC BY-SA 2.5

ROME, the day before the Ides.—Caesar refused a crown at the Lupercalia last month, though Antony tried several times to set it on his head.

“The people offer this to you through me,” Antony told him. Each time, the dictator put the crown aside. “Jupiter alone is king of the Romans,” Caesar answered, and he ordered it carried to the Capitol, there to be offered to Jupiter Best and Greatest.

The refusal now stands in the public records. The entry reads: “That Marcus Antonius, the consul, by command of the people, had offered the kingdom to Caius Caesar, perpetual dictator; and that Caesar had refused to accept it.”

The people offer this to you through meMark Antony, consul, offering the crown to Caesar at the Lupercalia

It was not the first crown of the winter. Earlier this winter, a man set a laurel crown on a statue of Caesar. The tribunes Epidius Marullus and Caesetius Flavus had him seized and thrown into prison.

Caesar dealt with the tribunes in turn. Both have been deprived of their office, and both have been put out of the Senate. Again and again the dictator called them “Brutes and Cymaeans”.

Suetonius, Life of Julius Caesar (Loeb, tr. Rolfe, 1914) · Cassius Dio, Roman History book 44 (Loeb, tr. Cary, 1917) · Cicero, Second Philippic (tr. C. D. Yonge, 1903) · Appian, Civil Wars book 2 (tr. Horace White, 1899) · Plutarch, Life of Caesar (Loeb, tr. Perrin, 1919).

Caesar kept his seat when the Senate brought its decrees

Reconstructed from historical sources

The temple of Venus Genetrix in Caesar's forum, before which the dictator received the senators. Caesar dedicated the temple two years ago.
The temple of Venus Genetrix in Caesar’s forum, before which the dictator received the senators. Caesar dedicated the temple two years ago.Photograph by Jebulon, via Wikimedia Commons · CC0

ROME, the day before the Ides.—When the Senate came to Caesar in a body this winter, bearing the decrees of the honours it had voted him, the dictator stayed in his seat and did not rise to meet them.

He was sitting in the porch of the temple of Venus in his forum. The slight angered the senators, and not the senators alone.

Some have put it down to illness. Most are not persuaded, and soon afterwards Caesar walked home.

Cassius Dio, Roman History book 44 (Loeb, tr. Cary, 1917).

Lights in the sky and men on fire in the streets, people say

Reconstructed from historical sources

ROME, the day before the Ides.—Strange sights and sounds are the talk of the city. People tell of lights seen in the sky and loud crashes heard in the night, and of solitary birds coming down in the Forum.

Others say they have seen crowds of men, all on fire, going up and down the streets.

There is talk, too, of a soldier’s slave whose hand seemed to throw out a great flame, though he was not burned.

Plutarch, Life of Caesar (Loeb, tr. Perrin, 1919).

In Brief

Rubicon horses will not graze

ROME, the day before the Ides.—The horses Caesar let loose at the Rubicon when he crossed that river are reported to be refusing to graze. They are said to be weeping freely.

Suetonius, Divus Julius (Loeb, tr. Rolfe, 1914).

Bronze tablet found in tomb at Capua

ROME, the day before the Ides.—At Capua a bronze tablet has been found in a tomb said to be that of Capys. Its words foretell that when his bones are moved, a descendant of Iulus will be killed by his kindred. It opens: “Whenever the bones of Capys shall be moved”.

Suetonius, Divus Julius (Loeb, tr. Rolfe, 1914).

Start The Ides of March from issue one tomorrow

Wayback Wire · No. 2 · 14 March 44 BC