The Murder of Julius Caesar

WALT- To use source evidence to create a detailed and accurate report.

Who was Julius Caesar?

• Roman army general• Had led his army to

conquer the whole of Gaul (France and Belgium)

• Had sent an expedition over to Britain

• Was a popular hero with his troops and with the ordinary people of Rome

Caesar and Pompey

• One of Caesar’s biggest rivals was another general called Pompey

• The Senate disliked Caesar and supported Pompey – they ordered Caesar to get rid of his army

• Caesar ignored them and defeated Pompey in battle

• Caesar then took over Rome as ‘Dictator for Life’

Caesar’s murder – the build up• A few weeks before his murder

Caesar is told by a soothsayer ‘Beware the Ides of march!’

• The night before his murder his wife Calpurnia has a nightmare and begs him not to go to the Senate

Caesar’s murder – the build up

The Murder• 15th March 44BC Caesar gets ready to go

to the senate• More than 60 conspirators wait for Caesar

in the Senate• The conspirators, all senators, are led by

Brutus and Cassius• With daggers concealed under their togas

they murder Caesar, stabbing him at least 23 times

• Caesar says to his friend Brutus ‘You, too, my child.’

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ieOLO33KFA

Who killed Julius Caesar?

The Charge

15th March 44BCIn the senateStabbed 23 times

CHARACTERS• CHAIRMAN• Court usher • Jury

DEFENCE WITNESSES• Defence lawyer• Army general 1• Army general 2• Army general 3• Army general 4

PROSECUTION WITNESSES• Prosecution lawyer• Roman politician 1• Roman politician 2• Roman politician 3• Senator 1• Senator 2• Lepidus retired solider• Nicolaus of Damascus

Judges = Jury - What we call the jury, the Romans called judges: iudices. These were probably members of the town council, the decuriones. Ostia’s council had one hundred in the late first century.

In order to be admitted as a decurion, you had to be freeborn, at least 25 years old, and wealthy. One of Cicero’s cases had 300 judges sitting in.

They voted by using wax tablets marked with a ‘C’ on one side and an ‘A’ on the other. If they thought the defendant was guilty, they rubbed off the 'A', leaving the 'C' for CONDEMNO. (I condemn) If they thought the defendant was innocent, they rubbed off the 'C', leaving the ‘A’ for ABSOLVO. (I release)

The tablets were placed in a jar and a clerk counted them up, then gave the result to the chairman

Six Parts of the Speech - Once the judges had been sworn in, the main speeches would be given, prosecution first, then defence. After that, witnesses would be called and cross-examinedEXORDIUM -- INTRODUCTIONNARRATION -- WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE THE CRIMEPROPOSITION -- HOW THE CRIME WAS COMMITTEDPROOFS -- EVIDENCE AND CLUES REFUTATION -- HOW YOUR OPPONENT IS WRONGPERORATION -- CONCLUSION

Why was Caesar murdered?• Listen to the evidence and make a list of the

different suspects and the reasons they are suspected.

Source Suspect Reason for suspicion1.

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Year 7 AssessmentYour Task –• Write a police report on the

murder of Julius Caesar• Include what happened and

why it happened

Rome Constabulary- Police Report

Incident- Murder of Julius Caesar

16 March 44BC

Report by Detective Inspector Sharland

Diagram of Crime Scene

Levels• Level 3 - Beginning to give a few reasons

for the murder of Caesar

• Level 4 - Give some reasons for the murder of Caesar

• Level 5 - Describe and make links between different reasons for the murder of Caesar

• Level 6 - Examine and explain reasons for the murder of Caesar