The Murder of Caesar Justified or Not

Caesar

1. The Battle of Pharsalus: Caesar's Leadership Genius and Failures

The Battle of Pharsalus, as described in Caesar's The Civil War" (Book 3, Sections 84-99), tells of Julius Caesar's strong military leadership and tactical genius. A pivotal moment in this account that reflects his genius is Caesar's foresight in extending his right wing. He anticipated that Pompey would be relying on cavalry. Knowing that, Caesar’s brilliant tactical maneuver allowed his troops, who were considerably outnumbered, to be able to flank Pompey's cavalry and secure a critical advantage (Caesar, BC 3.94).

However, Caesar's account also reveals some of his failures as a leader. For example, even though he gained the victory, he basically had to push his men to the brink. In order to do so successfully, he had to rely on their loyalty and endurance. His troops' exhaustion and the close nature of the battle suggest that his strategic decisions were not without high risks (Caesar, BC 3.97).

Plutarch’s portrayal in Life of Caesar (Sections 57-69) gives another view, and shows Caesar's charisma and leadership along with his tendency towards authoritarian style decision-making, which could possibly be seen as a failure in the light of Rome’s culture regarding power. Plutarch describes Caesar’s assumption of power and the subsequent consolidation as something that alienated some of the Roman elites and traditionalists (Plutarch, Life of Caesar 63).

2. Defining Caesarism and the Motivations of Caesar's Faction

Caesarism could be described as a form of leadership characterized by a strong, charismatic leader who wields absolute power under the appearance of emergency or necessity. Plutarch provides a detailed account of Caesar's rise to power and his methods of governance, which involved centralizing authority and bypassing the traditional Republican frameworks (Plutarch, Life of Caesar 59).

The motivations driving Caesar's followers stem from various factors, however. Plutarch mentions the personal loyalty to Caesar, which was cultivated through his genius use of charisma, generosity, and military successes (Plutarch, Life of Caesar 58). Additionally, Caesar’s ability to provide land and spoils to his soldiers and enact reforms that appealed to the lower classes of Rome helped solidify his base (Plutarch, Life of Caesar 57).

In contrast, Caesar himself, in his writings, often frames his actions as being in the interest of the Republic and Rome. He sees himself as a guardian of the people against a corrupt and dysfunctional oligarchy (Caesar, BC 3.89). Followers of Caesar might argue that there was no significant departure from the mos maiorum, as Caesar often positioned his actions within the framework of upholding Roman values and responding to extraordinary circumstances.

These explanations show that Caesarism really was in the eye of the beholder. It was different things to different people. For some it was a departure from traditional Republican values and for others a reinterpretation and realignment of those values around a benevolent authoritative figure capable of addressing the Republic's crises. This belief is what allowed followers of Caesar to reconcile their support with a belief in the continuity of Roman traditions, albeit redefined through the lens of Caesar's leadership.

3. Motivations Behind the Conspiracy to Overthrow Caesar and Comparisons with the Tarquin Exile

The conspiracy to overthrow Caesar grew out of a combination of political, personal, and ideological factors. First of all, many senators and political figures feared (whether justly or unjustly) that Caesar's continual accumulation of power was paving the way towards monarchy, a system that Rome had rejected with the expulsion of the Tarquins. Plutarch (Section 66) notes that the conspirators saw themselves as defenders of the Republic, aiming to prevent the re-establishment of a royal regime.

Personal rivalries and jealousy also played a role. Caesar's disregard for senatorial authority and the traditional checks and balances of Roman politics alienated many elite members, who felt sidelined or threatened by his populist approach and concentrated power (Plutarch, Life of Caesar 67). They did not like losing power to him.

Another motivation was the desire to preserve the Republican ideals of shared governance and opposition to any single individual wielding unlimited power. This is seen in both Caesar's commentaries and Plutarch's accounts, where the emphasis on liberty and traditional Roman values comes to the forefront (Plutarch, Life of Caesar 68).

The conspiracy against Caesar indeed mirrors the historical narrative of the exile of the Tarquins at the inception of the Republic. Both events are framed as ideological struggles between autocracy and republicanism. In the Tarquin exile, the Romans ousted a monarchy viewed as tyrannical and corrupt, establishing a Republic founded on laws and shared governance. The assassination of Caesar was driven by similar motivations—a return to the principles of the Republic and the prevention of a perceived slide back into monarchy.