Caesar’s Last Mistake (& the omens he ignored) - Alex Petkas
In a Nutshell
Caesar ignored repeated warnings of assassination plots, refused bodyguards, and threatened to punish anyone who brought him more names of conspirators. On his final night, he dined with Decimus Brutus—one of his future killers—and declared that the best death is sudden and unexpected. The next day, March 15th, he was stabbed to death by the very men he had trusted and protected.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
Caesar knew about assassination plots against him, including ones from 18 months earlier when he returned to Rome after defeating King Juba in the African campaign. Cicero mentioned these plots in a speech before Caesar, noting that Caesar had said he had lived long enough for nature or for glory. At this point in 46 BC, Caesar was 54 years old, having been born in 100 BC.
Despite friends begging him to increase his security detail and accept a bodyguard, Caesar refused, stating that such measures were what tyrants do. He was aware of the classic pattern where leaders claim threats against their life to justify bodyguards, then use that power to seize control. Caesar did not want to rule over a subjugated, cowed populace but over free Romans, and he did not want to create a police state.
When people continued bringing him names of potential conspirators, Caesar declared that anyone bringing him more talk about assassination plots would face consequences, threatening to fire them. He explicitly stated he did not want to hear about such plots anymore.
On March 14th, Caesar's last full day, he faced an overwhelming workload of cases to hear, petitions, and laws needing passage, while also preparing for his planned expedition to Parthia to avenge Crassus, who had been killed by the Parthians approximately 10 years earlier when they captured Roman eagles.
Caesar spent his final evening at a formal dinner at the house of Lepidus, his trusted friend. The dinner followed the typical Roman format with nine seats arranged around a central table, with guests reclining on couches. Among the nine guests was Decimus Brutus, who was not the Brutus featured in Shakespeare's play, but historically was closer to Caesar.
Decimus Brutus had served as a lieutenant under Caesar in Gaul, commanded naval forces against the Veneti, and played a crucial role in the Battle of Marseilles during the civil war. Caesar had named Decimus as a secondary heir in his will, yet Decimus would be among those who stabbed Caesar the following day.
During dinner, Caesar engaged in administrative work, signing letters while his secretary fed him documents requiring his signature. Following Roman custom, he wrote "vale" (farewell) on each letter throughout the evening.
Caesar proposed a philosophical topic for discussion: what constitutes the best kind of death. The conversation turned to Cyrus the Great, with Xenophon's account in the Cyropaedia describing how Cyrus had made detailed arrangements for his burial and succession. Caesar had read this work and stated that such a planned death sounded horrible. He declared that the best kind of death comes sudden, swift, and unexpected.
After returning home late, Caesar experienced an unsettled night with various reported omens. Calpurnia had a dream in which she was holding the bloody body of Caesar while their house burned and collapsed. Other omens included strange bird behavior and wind blowing open shutters. These accounts follow the ancient tradition of recording supernatural signs around significant historical events.
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