Beware the Ides of March

So, while my theatre instructor goes over our ridiculously simple midterm, I'll make a quick post regarding this highly historic day. As per the title of the post, today is the Ides of March, also known as the day the Conspirators murdered Julius Caesar. Ironically enough, we are continuing our discussion of his campaign in Gaul and his dictatorship today in military history.

As a quick background, Julius Caesar came from a prominent royal family, and actually claimed descendancy to Aeneas himself, the son of a Goddess according to legend and myth. His family, however, stood opposed to the aristocratic policies of the Senate and showed greater concern for the poorer masses. Caesar, as he rose through military and political ranks (constitutionally tied in Rome), echoed these concerns, and when he was dictator, he implemented a number of popular reforms. The Senate, because they were all patricians (aristocrats), disagreed with the redistribution of their wealth for the aid of the masses, and thus conspired with Cassius and Brutus to assasinate Caesar. They used as a pretext for this, however, that Caesar sought to be named king, which, in fact, he had denied.

For those of you who have studied Louisiana History, you may notice a great deal of parallel between Caesar and Huey Long, which only continues with more detailed studied. They both came from relatively affluent origins (and both actually played these down for political gain at some point), ascended the political ranks through mostly talent, and championed popular causes. Most obviously, both were assasinated, on the steps of their respective Senate houses no less.

There's my Ides of March tribute for the year. If you feel nerdy, and bold, be sure to share some of this infomation with friends and coworkers to showoff your obscure knowledge of things past. I have to know this stuff as a History major, though it's nice to share.