After reading about Caesar and his military conquests, I have began to wonder why and this great man was not more informed about a plot against his life. [The author has started to refer to Caesar as "The Dictator." This puts visions of Caesar marching around as Charlie Chaplin in his robes. Funny notion.] Furthermore, the author refers to it as a conspiracy, not a coup as I have come to view it. A coup for the good of Rome. Had Caesar put an end to the conspiracy or coup, the history of the Roman Republic would have turned out much differently.
Caesar's "duty" was to restore the [Roman] Constitution for the good of the Republic. The conspiracy against Caesar started one year prior to his death, March 15, 44 BC. There was a strong disaffection among the ruling class. There were up to 60 people involved in the effort to kill Caesar. They called themselves Freedom Fighters (Liberatores,) they were dissatisfied with the immense death toll from the recent civil war. At the Battle of Munda there were 30,000 deaths alone. Pompey's son Cneaus was killed in this fighting with his troops.
In addition to the political unrest, the treasury was bankrupt from fighting the civil war. A further strain was the cost of administering a larger republic and the food supplements handed out in Rome and elsewhere in the republic. And Anthony's mismanagement of the government during Caesar's absence during the civil war and while in Egypt.
On of the other contributing factors, in my opinion, was the death of Cato. When Cato killed himself, it was a big blow to Caesar's reputation. Cato was respected in the Senate and by the Optimates; but that someone would take his life for dignity and honor really hit the heart of what Caesar was trying to do. Then the publication of Cato by Cicero, Anti-Cato by Caesar and the pamphlet by Brutus did not do Caesar well in the public eye.
Lastly, when the author refers to Caesar as "Dictator," he was not really. He turned down the opportunity "officially" when the Senate offered it to him, but he was acting the role. Nothing upset the Roman people more then the idea of a king or dictator for life. Caesar should have know that from his powers of working with people and command in the military. Maybe the military service also kept him thinking he was in charge and unstoppable. That I don't know.
Note on the civil war: estimated 100,000 Roman citizens had lost their lives since 49 BC. Certain citizens viewed the civil war as two great generals going at each other for power. Pompey, representing the Optimates, the conservative faction and Caesar, representing the Populares, the people. Therefore the large death toll was uncalled for.
People mentioned in the conspiracy:
Caius Trebonius - Governor of Spain - asked Mark Anthony if he would join plot to kill Caesar
Mark Anthony - ran Italy in Caesar's absence - Remained silent when approached by Trebonius
Marcus Brutus
Caius Cassius Longius - Quaestor - Taken over Syria after Crassus's death at the Battle of Carrhae - Success with respect to Parthians in 51 BC when Cicero was Governor of Cilicia a neighboring province
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