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For three years, Julius Caesar
has been fighting a bloody civil war
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for control of the Roman Republic,
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against his former ally
Pompey the Great.
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But now, Pompey is dead.
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And Caesar gives thanks to the
gods for his victory.
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He will soon return to Rome.
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At stake is how Rome is going
to be governed from now on.
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It's one thing to win,
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but what's he going to do
with his victory?
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Caesar has grand plans.
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He wants to rule Rome's vast empire
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and restore the city of
his birth to greatness.
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But, in less than two years,
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Caesar will be dead...
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...and the Roman Republic
will lie in ruins.
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At the heart of the most powerful
empire in the ancient world
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stands Rome.
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For 500 years, it was ruled
by elected government.
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But, in a little over a decade,
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this republic was overthrown
by the ambitions of one man.
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The story of Caesar is
an incredibly enduring one.
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The resonance of it is so powerful.
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It remains the most thrilling,
the most extraordinary
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political story in Western history.
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Now, historians and experts
who understand the nature
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of political power
will chart his rise...
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He's so smart, he just knows how
to use his opportunities.
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00:02:08,563 --> 00:02:13,073
...and ask how an individual
can push a centuries—old
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political system to breaking point.
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Julius Caesar is the most
dangerous kind of demagogue.
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This is the story of how ambition
turns to tyranny...
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He's a disgrace in every single way.
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He's immoral, he's irreligious,
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and he's a potential tyrant.
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...and how a dictator is born.
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The awful lesson is that,
in the end,
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a populist can corrupt
an entire state.
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For every other political system
that values stability and justice,
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and liberty, that should be,
at the very least, a wake—up call.
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Democracy has to be
constantly fought for.
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If we take it for granted,
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a new Caesar will come.
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Caesar is planning
his victorious return to Rome.
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To demonstrate his greatness,
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he makes his defeated enemies
an offer.
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As the man who is in the process
of winning the civil war,
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he could have murdered his enemies,
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he could have launched a bloodbath.
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But he doesn't.
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He tries to win his defeated
enemies over to him
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by showing them mercy.
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But mercy is something that
a superior shows to an inferior,
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a master can show a slave.
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It broadcasts Caesar's magnanimity.
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It also broadcasts
Caesar's greatness.
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Caesar also knows he needs his
erstwhile enemies on side.
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Rome has been devastated
by civil war.
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To revive it, he'll need
the support of republican senators
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who have survived the war.
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If he can persuade his opponents
to rally to his cause,
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and to work for the good -
both of Caesar and of the republic -
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Caesar would be unchallenged
as the ruler of Rome.
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The problem is that Caesar's
enemies think that what
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Caesar stands for is tyranny.
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Total takeover of
the system by one man,
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backed by military strength.
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Caesar doesn't see it
that way at all.
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Caesar says, "Of course you can
be friends with me.
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"I forgive you. Come on.
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"We all have, at heart,
the same cause,
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"which is the Roman Republic,
the good of Rome."
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But for Caesar,
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one man matters above all others.
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From the beginning of his career,
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Cato has defended the republic
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and obstructed Caesar's ambitions.
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Cato has seen, in Caesar,
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corruption, the pride, the envy.
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He was predicting from the
very beginning that,
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unless people moved against Caesar,
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Caesar would try to turn himself
into some kind of mini—emperor.
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Cato is fighting for
the domination of the Senate,
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the old constitution.
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He is fighting to preserve
the dream of Rome.
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Caesar's army has defeated
republican legions
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led by Cato in North Africa.
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And now, he has Cato cornered.
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If Caesar can get Cato
to accept his mercy,
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it will give him authority
as the master of Rome,
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the master of Rome's empire.
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Cato understands that Caesar
will want to pardon him,
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and he'll want to bring him
in behind Caesar.
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And that's necessary for Caesar,
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because Cato is a very
powerful politician.
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Cato has to now make a decision.
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And he probably could
convince himself,
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as many people convince themselves,
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"Maybe I can do more good on the
inside than the outside.”
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But for Cato,
any compromise with a tyrant...
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...is the destruction of
the Roman Republic.
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The idea of compromising with
Caesar feels emotionally to him
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as it might do for somebody in
the 1930s being asked
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to compromise with Hitler.
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And, alone, he does
something extraordinary.
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He takes his sword...
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...plunges it into his chest.
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His son comes running in,
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tries to beg him, get doctors.
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And he must be in the most extreme
and astonishing agony.
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But Cato, looking into
the eyes of his son,
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reaches his hands into his bowels,
into his guts,
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and rips out his own entrails
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and dies.
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Cato's suicide is a very
deliberate and planned action,
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with heavy symbolism and
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absolute lack of compromise.
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Cato had always had a perhaps unique
ability to get under Caesar's skin.
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And, even with Cato dead,
his ghost continues to haunt Caesar.
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As a spirit in the underworld,
Cato remains undefeated.
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Cato's death is
the ultimate statement.
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No real Roman should ever
compromise with a man like Caesar.
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No real Roman should ever accept
the way this state is going.
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And the message that he sends is,
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"Shame. Shame on you.”
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Cato is able to establish
himself as a martyr,
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and Caesar as a tyrant.
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Caesar finally returns to Rome,
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where Cato's martyrdom threatens to
reinvigorate republican opposition.
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Caesar faces a battle to persuade
everyone he's not a tyrant,
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but the savior Rome needs.
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The civil war has caused
food shortages.
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People are very hungry, and there
is violence on the streets.
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Rome is in a state of crisis,
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it does need significant
intervention,
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and it does need people to
take action immediately.
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When Caesar comes back, there are
two great questions facing him.
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One is, what can he do, as a man
who is now wielding greater power
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than any man has ever had before,
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to solve the manifold crises
that are facing Rome?
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And the other, can the Republic
be put back together again?
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If it can't,
then what should replace it?
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Since the start of the civil war,
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the Senate has been
barely functioning.
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00:10:30,018 --> 00:10:33,498
For centuries, it's been
the heart of republican government,
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founded on the principle that
the people elect officials
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who use their seat in
the Senate to propose laws
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that are put back to the Roman
citizens for their vote.
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Caesar must decide whether
to revive the system or abandon it.
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Caesar wants to find a way of
making the Roman state work.
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He has no choice but
to get the Senate back up,
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and he knows as well that the key
to this is to get conservatives
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who have opposed him on his side.
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Caesar needs his opponents
to trust him.
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To help persuade them,
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he courts a young man held in
high regard by republicans.
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Marcus Junius Brutus.
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Brutus is the descendant of the
founder of the Republic,
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the man who expelled Rome's final
king 500 years before.
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And he led the people to swear
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an oath that they would never
again suffer one—man rule.
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So, Brutus is the poster boy
of the Roman Republic,
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and those who are
more conservative—minded
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look up to Brutus.
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But what's really fascinating is
that he's also connected to Caesar.
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Caesar's long—term lover and great
friend is Brutus's mother.
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And so, Caesar looks out
for Brutus throughout his life.
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There's even a rumor that, er,
Brutus may actually be
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Caesar's love child.
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With Brutus on his side,
Caesar could win the legitimacy
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he needs to get the Senate
working for him.
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He offers Brutus
a powerful position —
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the governorship of one of
Rome's territories.
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Brutus isn't going to
turn that down.
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He still has reservations about
what Caesar's up to,
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but, like many of his generation,
he wants to get to the top,
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he wants great political
prestige and power.
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As soon as Brutus jumps onto
Caesar's bandwagon,
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he's got the authority
and the cachet,
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and he convinces other senators
to accept Caesar's pardon
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and to join him.
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Amongst the old guard
that Brutus needs to persuade
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are senior republican statesmen.
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00:13:00,259 --> 00:13:05,029
Marcus Tullius Cicero is an
orator, he's a lawyer,
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he's the consummate politician.
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He is political to his core,
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and he stands for the Republic,
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he stands for the senatorial system,
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and he believes that this is the way
in which Rome will thrive.
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00:13:23,019 --> 00:13:27,229
Although Cicero has high political
principles, he's a realist.
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He can see that the Senate has
not given the leadership
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that Rome needs, and he hopes
that he can lead Caesar towards
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being somebody who rebuilds
the Republic.
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Caesar has power, and maybe that
power can be used for good.
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By the Autumn of 46 BC,
Brutus has helped bring old
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opponents like Cicero over
to Caesar's side.
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The Senate is reconvened...
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...but Caesar has no intention of
restoring its full authority.
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00:14:10,209 --> 00:14:15,490
Caesar is the man who has been in
the saddle for years and years.
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00:14:15,490 --> 00:14:18,610
His instincts are those of
a military commander —
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00:14:18,610 --> 00:14:20,899
he gives orders, they're obeyed.
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00:14:20,899 --> 00:14:25,459
And so, it's unsurprising that
he should find the requirements of
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a republican system
of government frustrating,
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00:14:28,389 --> 00:14:30,669
and I suspect also
a little beneath him.
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00:14:35,699 --> 00:14:38,979
Caesar promises
he's restoring the Republic,
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00:14:38,979 --> 00:14:41,949
whilst also seeking a way
to legitimately take
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00:14:41,949 --> 00:14:43,669
full command of the Senate.
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00:14:45,819 --> 00:14:48,059
Caesar, by Roman standards —
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00:14:48,059 --> 00:14:50,699
and the Romans are an inherently
conservative people —
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is incredibly radical.
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00:14:52,769 --> 00:14:55,679
And yet, he looks back to the past,
which is what Romans had
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always done whenever
they were faced with a crisis.
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00:14:59,189 --> 00:15:03,259
And in this lumber box of
Rome's constitutional past,
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00:15:03,259 --> 00:15:06,059
there's an office called
the dictatorship.
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00:15:08,309 --> 00:15:12,129
The position of dictator had
a very established place within
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00:15:12,129 --> 00:15:16,769
the Roman system of government,
as an extraordinary power
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00:15:16,769 --> 00:15:19,490
in a period where Rome was
in particular crisis.
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00:15:21,500 --> 00:15:25,939
The Roman Republic is founded on
the idea of power being shared.
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00:15:27,859 --> 00:15:33,129
Only in extreme crisis can
the office of dictator give one man
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temporary control of Rome.
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In an emergency, you should
only be a dictator for
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00:15:41,339 --> 00:15:43,209
a maximum of six months.
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You take Rome out of that emergency,
and then hand power back.
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00:15:48,500 --> 00:15:51,989
Now Caesar pushes the limits of
constitutional propriety
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00:15:51,989 --> 00:15:54,939
even further — he demands
that he be made dictator,
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00:15:54,939 --> 00:15:57,189
not for six months...
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00:15:58,789 --> 00:16:00,309
...not for a year...
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...but ten years.
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The Senate reluctantly agree,
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00:16:08,909 --> 00:16:12,939
but on the condition they will
review his position every year.
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00:16:14,679 --> 00:16:18,750
Men like Brutus are willing
to give Caesar these powers because
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00:16:18,750 --> 00:16:20,859
they think they're temporary.
232
00:16:20,859 --> 00:16:24,939
But it's a huge gamble -
it's expecting Caesar
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00:16:24,939 --> 00:16:26,929
not to be corrupted by power.
234
00:16:29,259 --> 00:16:34,539
Cicero is open to the idea that
maybe Caesar is a necessary evil.
235
00:16:36,459 --> 00:16:39,662
When a society is going through
really great strains,
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00:16:39,662 --> 00:16:43,742
when the political system doesn't
seem to be delivering for people,
237
00:16:43,742 --> 00:16:48,612
then having a strong leader can be
a very seductive idea.
238
00:16:51,971 --> 00:16:54,811
The Republic is in a state of ruin.
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00:16:54,811 --> 00:17:01,211
The predominant feeling in Rome
is a kind of exhausted hope
240
00:17:01,211 --> 00:17:05,531
that perhaps Caesar will be able
to use these exceptional powers
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00:17:05,531 --> 00:17:07,101
to bring Rome back to life.
242
00:17:09,451 --> 00:17:12,492
So, Caesar is made a dictator.
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00:17:12,492 --> 00:17:16,941
And they give him the permission
to sit between the consuls,
244
00:17:16,941 --> 00:17:21,021
ie, superior to both of the consuls,
245
00:17:21,021 --> 00:17:23,641
give him a special seat to sit on,
246
00:17:23,641 --> 00:17:24,891
give him a throne.
247
00:17:30,651 --> 00:17:33,561
Using his newly—sanctioned
authority,
248
00:17:33,561 --> 00:17:36,771
Caesar expands the powers
a dictator can hold.
249
00:17:37,861 --> 00:17:43,592
He creates a new title for himself —
the Prefect of Morals.
250
00:17:45,311 --> 00:17:49,081
Praefectus Morum -
the man in charge of morals.
251
00:17:49,081 --> 00:17:51,511
That's a really, really scary title.
252
00:17:52,831 --> 00:17:56,271
But what's really important
is that gives him a power
253
00:17:56,271 --> 00:17:58,271
to get people in and out
of the Senate.
254
00:18:02,101 --> 00:18:04,732
Caesar increases
the size of the Senate
255
00:18:04,732 --> 00:18:07,201
from 600 to 900 men.
256
00:18:08,331 --> 00:18:12,231
Caesar loyalists now outnumber
conservative opponents.
257
00:18:14,631 --> 00:18:17,871
For centuries, the Republican
system has given people
258
00:18:17,871 --> 00:18:20,671
the right to vote for magistrates -
259
00:18:20,671 --> 00:18:23,441
men who hold powerful roles
in the Senate.
260
00:18:24,592 --> 00:18:30,271
Now, Caesar decides he will appoint
all of the magistrates himself.
261
00:18:31,441 --> 00:18:35,261
Caesar's new power —
to choose the magistrates —
262
00:18:35,261 --> 00:18:40,831
is a very serious abandonment
of Republican tradition,
263
00:18:40,831 --> 00:18:46,352
because it's precisely the power
of the Roman people to choose,
264
00:18:46,352 --> 00:18:49,701
each year, who are going to be
its magistrates that gives
265
00:18:49,701 --> 00:18:51,911
the Roman people its voice.
266
00:18:51,911 --> 00:18:54,121
And Caesar, the Popularis,
267
00:18:54,121 --> 00:18:57,931
Caesar, the man who believes in
the power of the Roman people,
268
00:18:57,931 --> 00:19:00,341
is now, paradoxically,
269
00:19:00,341 --> 00:19:04,721
removing one of the central powers
of the Roman people.
270
00:19:07,051 --> 00:19:11,161
In just a few months,
Caesar centralizes five centuries
271
00:19:11,161 --> 00:19:14,411
of Republican powers in the
office of dictator.
272
00:19:16,171 --> 00:19:20,971
He takes control of Rome's laws,
finances, armies,
273
00:19:20,971 --> 00:19:22,541
and elected officials.
274
00:19:24,391 --> 00:19:26,961
As long as he is dictator,
275
00:19:26,961 --> 00:19:29,061
Caesar alone controls Rome.
276
00:19:30,651 --> 00:19:35,372
Caesar is taking power as
his own personal possession
277
00:19:35,372 --> 00:19:37,291
and handing it out as he wishes.
278
00:19:37,291 --> 00:19:42,013
And that is a huge challenge to
the whole concept of the Republic.
279
00:19:42,013 --> 00:19:47,416
You're talking about the suspension
of all the normal rules of
280
00:19:47,416 --> 00:19:50,416
how Roman political life works.
281
00:19:52,546 --> 00:19:57,176
For senators of a conservative
inclination, Caesar's reforms
282
00:19:57,176 --> 00:19:59,566
seem wanton vandalism.
283
00:19:59,566 --> 00:20:01,896
But this is not how Caesar sees it.
284
00:20:01,896 --> 00:20:05,946
Caesar is bringing in policies that
are designed to heal Rome.
285
00:20:14,046 --> 00:20:18,846
Caesar uses his power to put
other radical policies into action.
286
00:20:21,126 --> 00:20:25,976
Caesar has got a hell of a lot
to do to deal with
287
00:20:25,976 --> 00:20:28,816
all the problems that have
been bubbling away,
288
00:20:28,816 --> 00:20:34,406
and try to get Rome back
on an even kilter.
289
00:20:34,406 --> 00:20:40,076
Er, it's astonishing how much
he could do so quickly.
290
00:20:40,076 --> 00:20:42,186
A lot of things aren't working,
291
00:20:42,186 --> 00:20:44,377
and a lot of things need repair —
292
00:20:44,377 --> 00:20:47,546
roads, infrastructure, aqueducts.
293
00:20:48,617 --> 00:20:50,336
There are food shortages.
294
00:20:51,536 --> 00:20:55,246
But he's in a position now to
ensure that the mass of
295
00:20:55,246 --> 00:20:56,986
the Roman people will be fed.
296
00:20:58,036 --> 00:21:04,546
He feels that he alone has
the ability and the vision to solve
297
00:21:04,546 --> 00:21:09,706
problems that his contemporaries had
manifestly been unable to solve.
298
00:21:11,156 --> 00:21:16,266
He sponsors the rebuilding and
beautification of the Senate house.
299
00:21:16,266 --> 00:21:19,706
He draws up plans to build
the largest temple of the world
300
00:21:19,706 --> 00:21:20,936
on the Campus Martius.
301
00:21:20,936 --> 00:21:25,296
He even has an astonishing scheme
to divert the very course of
302
00:21:25,296 --> 00:21:28,846
the Tiber, as though he is a man
so divine that, with his finger,
303
00:21:28,846 --> 00:21:32,136
he can, you know, reorder
the course of rivers.
304
00:21:35,086 --> 00:21:39,186
Nothing is beyond the reach
of Caesar to correct,
305
00:21:39,186 --> 00:21:41,346
to regulate, to improve -
306
00:21:41,346 --> 00:21:42,736
even the dimension of time.
307
00:21:44,656 --> 00:21:47,056
The Roman calendar,
by Caesar's lifetime,
308
00:21:47,056 --> 00:21:48,696
is in a state of chaos.
309
00:21:48,696 --> 00:21:52,816
It doesn't synchronize at all with
the rhythms of the seasons,
310
00:21:52,816 --> 00:21:54,226
the patterns of the years.
311
00:21:54,226 --> 00:21:59,976
And so, amid all the many other
things that Caesar is doing,
312
00:21:59,976 --> 00:22:02,906
he orders a recalibration
of the calendar.
313
00:22:05,166 --> 00:22:10,056
He gives us a calendar
which we have continued to use
314
00:22:10,056 --> 00:22:12,296
for the next two millennia!
315
00:22:17,136 --> 00:22:21,367
It probably seems like life is going
to get better under Caesar.
316
00:22:23,367 --> 00:22:26,776
He offers the people
a little bit of stability,
317
00:22:26,776 --> 00:22:29,066
an improvement to
their day—to—day lives.
318
00:22:32,706 --> 00:22:34,666
Rome begins to prosper.
319
00:22:36,996 --> 00:22:40,627
But Republican senators
remain anxious that Caesar won't
320
00:22:40,627 --> 00:22:43,806
willingly relinquish his power
at the end of his term.
321
00:22:45,696 --> 00:22:48,226
Their hands aren't completely tied.
322
00:22:49,446 --> 00:22:52,607
Just as the Senate can grant him
the dictatorship,
323
00:22:52,607 --> 00:22:54,436
if enough turn against him,
324
00:22:54,436 --> 00:22:56,886
they could vote to take it away.
325
00:23:06,506 --> 00:23:09,876
Caesar wants to make it clear
who holds the reigns.
326
00:23:11,266 --> 00:23:15,556
He temporarily moves the base
of power to his own villa,
327
00:23:15,556 --> 00:23:18,347
20km outside Rome.
328
00:23:20,506 --> 00:23:24,706
What Caesar does,
by taking power outside of Rome,
329
00:23:24,706 --> 00:23:28,996
is demonstrating that, instead of
power being where Rome is,
330
00:23:28,996 --> 00:23:30,976
power is where Caesar is.
331
00:23:33,206 --> 00:23:37,487
Caesar decides to fill all
influential positions in the Senate
332
00:23:37,487 --> 00:23:39,406
with those loyal to him.
333
00:23:41,436 --> 00:23:47,816
He summons Rome's elite to find out
if they have a place in his plan.
334
00:23:47,816 --> 00:23:50,886
So, you have this
extraordinary spectacle —
335
00:23:50,886 --> 00:23:54,086
the great and the good of Rome
effectively queuing
336
00:23:54,086 --> 00:23:55,346
at Caesar's door.
337
00:23:57,726 --> 00:24:00,446
To ensure conservatives stay loyal,
338
00:24:00,446 --> 00:24:05,016
Caesar meets a man they all
look up to — Brutus.
339
00:24:07,456 --> 00:24:10,656
He sees Brutus as if he's a son
who he's looked after,
340
00:24:10,656 --> 00:24:12,526
cherished and promoted.
341
00:24:13,576 --> 00:24:16,696
Now, Caesar promises
Brutus fantastic things.
342
00:24:16,696 --> 00:24:19,216
He's going to get a
key appointment this year,
343
00:24:19,216 --> 00:24:21,666
and this will all put him on
track for a consulship
344
00:24:21,666 --> 00:24:22,816
in the future, as well.
345
00:24:25,345 --> 00:24:29,102
It's a really bittersweet
moment for Brutus.
346
00:24:31,002 --> 00:24:34,652
On the one hand, he is climbing
that ladder of offices.
347
00:24:34,652 --> 00:24:37,092
The consulship is in reach.
348
00:24:37,092 --> 00:24:42,352
But at the same time, he doesn't
like the fact that Caesar
349
00:24:42,352 --> 00:24:45,582
is centralizing all of
this power around himself.
350
00:24:49,152 --> 00:24:52,942
But in the end, he's able
to shrug it off because,
351
00:24:52,942 --> 00:24:55,383
at the moment, he's benefiting
from the system.
352
00:24:58,612 --> 00:25:03,742
Another man Caesar wants at his side
is his most loyal general,
353
00:25:03,742 --> 00:25:05,072
Mark Antony.
354
00:25:07,102 --> 00:25:10,892
Antony has been Caesar's right—hand
man throughout the civil war.
355
00:25:14,712 --> 00:25:16,102
Mark Antony is one of the
356
00:25:16,102 --> 00:25:18,902
best—educated men of his time,
357
00:25:18,902 --> 00:25:21,592
which is why he's a terrific orator,
358
00:25:21,592 --> 00:25:24,622
as well as a talented,
valorous general.
359
00:25:28,513 --> 00:25:31,393
But he's also inclined
to drink too much...
360
00:25:34,022 --> 00:25:36,872
...had sex too often.
361
00:25:36,872 --> 00:25:40,712
And these are vices that don't
necessarily sit well with a man
362
00:25:40,712 --> 00:25:42,542
who's a distinguished Roman noble.
363
00:25:45,222 --> 00:25:50,162
But one of the reasons Caesar
is able to succeed is that,
364
00:25:50,162 --> 00:25:55,542
throughout his career,
he has a talent for drawing people
365
00:25:55,542 --> 00:25:58,432
into intimate associations
with himself.
366
00:25:59,872 --> 00:26:05,102
And so Caesar can exploit
the talents of ambitious men
367
00:26:05,102 --> 00:26:06,982
who are centered around him.
368
00:26:10,622 --> 00:26:14,102
Caesar promises Mark Antony
the consulship.
369
00:26:17,892 --> 00:26:21,902
Caesar becomes the focus
of attention for many
370
00:26:21,902 --> 00:26:26,072
ambitious young men who see
in Caesar an opportunity to become
371
00:26:26,072 --> 00:26:29,332
either wealthy or powerful,
or influential ahead of their time.
372
00:26:29,332 --> 00:26:34,462
Caesar is it. He is how you
participate in this new Republic.
373
00:26:36,872 --> 00:26:40,112
Caesar is convinced the men
he's chosen will help him
374
00:26:40,112 --> 00:26:42,162
maintain control of the Senate.
375
00:26:44,032 --> 00:26:46,672
But there are many
he simply overlooks.
376
00:26:48,112 --> 00:26:51,742
Seeing Caesar handing the power
to his own underlings,
377
00:26:51,742 --> 00:26:54,592
Cicero is sitting outside waiting.
378
00:26:54,592 --> 00:26:59,632
This is definitely not the way that
former consuls should be treated.
379
00:26:59,632 --> 00:27:03,092
Caesar is not using his position
for the public good.
380
00:27:03,092 --> 00:27:07,442
He is using it to belittle somebody
who had great respect in the Senate.
381
00:27:09,363 --> 00:27:12,772
Caesar ignores some of Rome's
most senior statesmen...
382
00:27:14,243 --> 00:27:18,052
...but he also offends some of
its most ambitious men.
383
00:27:20,412 --> 00:27:23,442
Looking in on all of
this is Cassius.
384
00:27:23,442 --> 00:27:27,483
Cassius is 41, in his prime.
385
00:27:27,483 --> 00:27:32,363
He is a successful soldier
and a very skilled politician.
386
00:27:33,522 --> 00:27:35,962
He comes from an elite Roman family
387
00:27:35,962 --> 00:27:39,602
who've produced seven consuls
in the last 100 years.
388
00:27:42,132 --> 00:27:45,442
And he does go to Caesar
asking for promotion.
389
00:27:45,442 --> 00:27:48,212
He gets something, but not enough.
390
00:27:50,702 --> 00:27:54,513
Cassius is not happy with
Caesar personally,
391
00:27:54,513 --> 00:27:56,792
and certainly not politically.
392
00:27:56,792 --> 00:28:00,462
Everything now is increasingly
going through Caesar himself.
393
00:28:04,102 --> 00:28:07,302
TOM HOLLAND: There is, of course,
a problem for Caesar.
394
00:28:07,302 --> 00:28:12,182
Whereas before, people who were
defeated in elections really
395
00:28:12,182 --> 00:28:13,982
only had themselves to blame,
396
00:28:13,982 --> 00:28:16,902
now it is possible for them
to blame Caesar.
397
00:28:16,902 --> 00:28:21,392
And this, of course, is storing up
quite a reservoir of resentment.
398
00:28:40,602 --> 00:28:44,992
Back in Rome, senators who want
a seat at Caesar's table
399
00:28:44,992 --> 00:28:48,102
contrive ways to
ingratiate themselves.
400
00:28:49,312 --> 00:28:52,832
Caesar's ability to choose
the magistrates changes
401
00:28:52,832 --> 00:28:54,952
the nature of political life.
402
00:28:54,952 --> 00:28:57,342
And now, you've got to earn
his favour.
403
00:28:58,712 --> 00:29:04,112
So, the Senate dream up hon our
after hon our, after hon our,
404
00:29:04,112 --> 00:29:10,032
give him a special wreath in gold
leaf to put around his head.
405
00:29:10,032 --> 00:29:13,592
But the more you hon our Caesar,
406
00:29:13,592 --> 00:29:16,882
the more invidious you
make his position.
407
00:29:18,402 --> 00:29:21,622
While resentment
towards Caesar festers,
408
00:29:21,622 --> 00:29:26,882
he grows increasingly impatient
with petty Roman politics.
409
00:29:26,882 --> 00:29:30,652
And when a delegation approaches
him with more hon ours,
410
00:29:30,652 --> 00:29:33,012
he doesn't do what's
expected of him.
411
00:29:35,332 --> 00:29:39,092
A whole body of senators go
into Caesar's forum,
412
00:29:39,092 --> 00:29:44,273
and there he is, enthroned,
looking as grand as could be.
413
00:29:44,273 --> 00:29:46,862
And there's the Senate saying,
414
00:29:46,862 --> 00:29:50,373
"Caesar, we would like
to hon our you."
415
00:29:50,373 --> 00:29:52,292
And Caesar doesn't stand up.
416
00:29:57,862 --> 00:30:00,962
In Rome, equals stand
to greet each other.
417
00:30:00,962 --> 00:30:04,652
It's as if he's saying,
in plain view,
418
00:30:04,652 --> 00:30:07,342
that the entire Senate
is beneath him.
419
00:30:10,192 --> 00:30:13,832
The problem that both Caesar
and the Senate face
420
00:30:13,832 --> 00:30:17,592
is that Caesar's preponderance
has made the traditional function
421
00:30:17,592 --> 00:30:21,232
of the Senate, the role of the
helmsmen guiding the ship of state,
422
00:30:21,232 --> 00:30:22,822
essentially irrelevant.
423
00:30:24,393 --> 00:30:27,393
Caesar is too impatient,
424
00:30:27,393 --> 00:30:32,592
too unsubtle not to let his
fellow senators know
425
00:30:32,592 --> 00:30:34,032
that he knows this.
426
00:30:37,942 --> 00:30:42,652
For Cicero, if Caesar is willing
to disregard the basic rules of
427
00:30:42,652 --> 00:30:45,772
the Senate, in terms of
how people treat each other,
428
00:30:45,772 --> 00:30:48,202
then what does that mean for
any other rules that
429
00:30:48,202 --> 00:30:50,342
the Senate may have?
430
00:30:50,342 --> 00:30:53,042
This is a shocking moment.
431
00:30:53,042 --> 00:30:55,302
And Cicero gives up his hope
in Caesar.
432
00:30:57,572 --> 00:31:02,322
It's a massive shock and must
really irk men like Brutus.
433
00:31:02,322 --> 00:31:06,092
He's still been holding out hope
that Caesar is going
434
00:31:06,092 --> 00:31:07,582
to restore the Republic.
435
00:31:10,612 --> 00:31:14,732
But is Caesar going
to restore authority to a Senate
436
00:31:14,732 --> 00:31:17,042
that he doesn't seem to care
much for any more?
437
00:31:18,862 --> 00:31:23,622
For some senators, Caesar's blatant
disregard for the unwritten rules
438
00:31:23,622 --> 00:31:25,602
is a step too far.
439
00:31:27,122 --> 00:31:32,072
As a constitutional lawyer in
Britain, I have spent many years
440
00:31:32,072 --> 00:31:36,112
believing in the beauty of
unwritten constitutions.
441
00:31:36,112 --> 00:31:38,592
But they have their weakness, too.
442
00:31:38,592 --> 00:31:44,352
If that constitution is really just
a gentlemen's agreement,
443
00:31:44,352 --> 00:31:49,592
what happens when one of them
decide that everything's going
444
00:31:49,592 --> 00:31:51,992
to change in their favour?
445
00:31:51,992 --> 00:31:58,472
Political process is dependent upon
integrity and mutual respect.
446
00:31:58,472 --> 00:32:00,992
If those rules break down,
447
00:32:00,992 --> 00:32:04,492
it's very difficult to see
the way forward for a democracy.
448
00:32:06,562 --> 00:32:11,302
If you believe in a system of
government that is designed
449
00:32:11,302 --> 00:32:13,462
to balance power,
450
00:32:13,462 --> 00:32:15,532
you have a moral duty to defend it.
451
00:32:18,123 --> 00:32:22,662
As Caesar shows increasing disregard
for republican conventions,
452
00:32:22,662 --> 00:32:25,482
it's Cassius who dares to speak up.
453
00:32:27,772 --> 00:32:32,762
Cassius really does try
to challenge Caesar openly,
454
00:32:32,762 --> 00:32:34,172
in plain view.
455
00:32:37,812 --> 00:32:39,812
Rather perceptively, he says,
456
00:32:39,812 --> 00:32:44,273
"All these hon ours are getting us
into really dangerous territory.
457
00:32:44,273 --> 00:32:46,445
"We are creating a monster here."
458
00:32:48,906 --> 00:32:54,416
Cassius is an idealist, and he does
care about the Republican ideal.
459
00:32:54,416 --> 00:32:57,216
But the more powerful
Caesar becomes,
460
00:32:57,216 --> 00:33:01,066
the more dangerous speaking out is
for people like Cassius.
461
00:33:02,387 --> 00:33:05,306
Cassius knows the tide is turning.
462
00:33:05,306 --> 00:33:09,816
It's time to act but, of course,
Cassius can't act alone.
463
00:33:11,536 --> 00:33:15,836
He must suspect that people
are feeling as he does,
464
00:33:15,836 --> 00:33:18,116
but will they be as brave?
465
00:33:21,277 --> 00:33:25,026
What's happening is that
the opposition to Caesar is
466
00:33:25,026 --> 00:33:27,486
becoming more coherent.
467
00:33:27,486 --> 00:33:29,566
It's crystallizing —
468
00:33:29,566 --> 00:33:33,766
crystallizing around a number
of people, a number of ideas.
469
00:33:37,247 --> 00:33:39,906
Whatever else he is,
Caesar is not an idiot.
470
00:33:39,906 --> 00:33:43,407
Of course he understands the
resentments that are festering away
471
00:33:43,407 --> 00:33:44,556
in the Senate.
472
00:33:44,556 --> 00:33:48,576
He's a Roman — I mean, every Roman
is aware that the resentment
473
00:33:48,576 --> 00:33:51,784
of your fellow senators is part
of the deal for greatness.
474
00:33:51,784 --> 00:33:54,317
Is he afraid, though?
Is he anxious?
475
00:33:54,317 --> 00:33:56,667
Is he alarmed by this?
I think not.
476
00:34:00,507 --> 00:34:04,497
Caesar has better things to do
than indulge his detractors.
477
00:34:05,777 --> 00:34:08,477
His ambitions reach beyond Rome.
478
00:34:11,268 --> 00:34:14,907
Caesar plans to conquer
the one great foe Rome has
479
00:34:14,907 --> 00:34:16,987
so far failed to subdue.
480
00:34:18,187 --> 00:34:19,787
The Part hi an Empire.
481
00:34:21,827 --> 00:34:24,617
It was in Parthia nine years earlier
482
00:34:24,617 --> 00:34:28,907
that Caesar's old ally, Crassus,
lost many Roman legions...
483
00:34:28,907 --> 00:34:30,307
...and his own life.
484
00:34:32,197 --> 00:34:36,847
Caesar believes he is the man
to bring Parthia to heel.
485
00:34:38,217 --> 00:34:42,837
What Caesar has in mind is to
launch the most formidable
486
00:34:42,837 --> 00:34:46,117
and massive invasion
the Romans have ever launched.
487
00:34:47,357 --> 00:34:51,097
If Caesar is successful,
he will return to Rome
488
00:34:51,097 --> 00:34:53,227
the greatest conqueror in history.
489
00:35:00,398 --> 00:35:04,148
Caesar announces he'll leave for
Parthia in three months' time...
490
00:35:05,507 --> 00:35:07,917
...shortly after
the middle of March -
491
00:35:07,917 --> 00:35:10,837
known to the Romans as the Ides.
492
00:35:12,557 --> 00:35:15,907
He's always happiest
at the head of an army
493
00:35:15,907 --> 00:35:18,227
defeating visible foes.
494
00:35:18,227 --> 00:35:21,747
The toughest foe of all is
the foe you can't see,
495
00:35:21,747 --> 00:35:26,427
is your old friends and your old
enemies plotting together
496
00:35:26,427 --> 00:35:28,707
and sinking a knife in your back.
497
00:35:31,268 --> 00:35:33,627
Before he leaves for Parthia,
498
00:35:33,627 --> 00:35:38,627
Caesar uses supporters in the Senate
to create him a role that will
499
00:35:38,627 --> 00:35:41,627
consolidate his power indefinitely.
500
00:35:43,018 --> 00:35:46,637
They offer to make him dictator,
not just for ten years
501
00:35:46,637 --> 00:35:50,197
but perpetuous, forever.
502
00:35:50,197 --> 00:35:52,767
Which means that, if he accepts,
503
00:35:52,767 --> 00:35:55,517
no—one will ever be able
to take his dictatorship away.
504
00:35:59,877 --> 00:36:03,947
It's a quite extraordinary thing —
a really, really explicit
505
00:36:03,947 --> 00:36:07,997
contravention of Roman
customary practice.
506
00:36:07,997 --> 00:36:15,278
The entire idea of the
non—monarchical state is that
507
00:36:15,278 --> 00:36:17,917
no—one has power in perpetuity.
508
00:36:22,067 --> 00:36:25,877
There is a moment
when Caesar dooms himself.
509
00:36:25,877 --> 00:36:30,987
It's when he accepts the office
of dictator in perpetuity,
510
00:36:30,987 --> 00:36:32,477
dictator for life.
511
00:36:32,477 --> 00:36:35,278
Because, up until that moment,
512
00:36:35,278 --> 00:36:42,427
it had been possible for other
senators to envisage a time when
513
00:36:42,427 --> 00:36:46,377
the normal rhythms of the Republic
would be restored to them.
514
00:36:52,307 --> 00:36:56,477
Step by step, Caesar is being
corrupted by this power he's got.
515
00:36:57,917 --> 00:37:02,207
The moment he accepts
the title "dictator for life",
516
00:37:02,207 --> 00:37:04,207
the mask comes off.
517
00:37:04,207 --> 00:37:06,507
He is not going to restore
the Republic.
518
00:37:09,158 --> 00:37:13,038
The Roman Republic, as the Romans
have known it for so long,
519
00:37:13,038 --> 00:37:14,427
is on the brink of collapse.
520
00:37:19,207 --> 00:37:21,567
Cassius saw this coming.
521
00:37:21,567 --> 00:37:26,967
He said, "I told you so when he
wanted to appoint the magistrates.
522
00:37:28,967 --> 00:37:33,087
"I told you so when he wanted
to be a dictator for six months,
523
00:37:33,087 --> 00:37:35,537
"let alone ten years,
524
00:37:35,537 --> 00:37:40,258
"and now, in perpetuity —
I saw this coming."
525
00:37:52,158 --> 00:37:55,917
A month before Caesar's
planned departure for Parthia,
526
00:37:55,917 --> 00:37:59,587
a festival called Lupercalia
gives him a chance to gauge
527
00:37:59,587 --> 00:38:02,787
the people's appetite for
the rule of one man.
528
00:38:05,077 --> 00:38:07,877
Caesar presides over sacred rituals
529
00:38:07,877 --> 00:38:10,507
that celebrate
the King who founded Rome.
530
00:38:13,187 --> 00:38:16,747
The Lupercalia begins with
a sacrifice performed by
531
00:38:16,747 --> 00:38:18,547
the priests for this festival.
532
00:38:18,547 --> 00:38:23,357
They sacrifice goats,
and they sacrifice puppies.
533
00:38:23,357 --> 00:38:26,258
And the chief priest is Mark Antony.
534
00:38:27,567 --> 00:38:31,258
He has to smear blood on his body
535
00:38:31,258 --> 00:38:34,377
and exhibit his sweaty
masculinity to the people.
536
00:38:39,517 --> 00:38:43,317
The main spectacle takes place
in front of a large crowd
537
00:38:43,317 --> 00:38:44,867
in the public forum.
538
00:38:46,587 --> 00:38:49,877
Antony comes to Caesar,
and he presents Caesar
539
00:38:49,877 --> 00:38:51,288
with this diadem.
540
00:38:52,877 --> 00:38:55,757
Which is the symbol of kingship.
541
00:39:00,158 --> 00:39:05,467
This is the kind of public drama
that has been choreographed
542
00:39:05,467 --> 00:39:07,997
by Caesar and Antony together.
543
00:39:11,677 --> 00:39:15,158
It's an incredibly bold maneuver.
544
00:39:15,158 --> 00:39:17,707
Some of our sources say
this was a test.
545
00:39:17,707 --> 00:39:21,717
That Caesar was trying to decide
whether or not monarchy was going
546
00:39:21,717 --> 00:39:24,747
to be a route that he could
take going forward
547
00:39:24,747 --> 00:39:26,587
in his political regime.
548
00:39:28,227 --> 00:39:31,947
However, as Antony offers
Caesar the diadem,
549
00:39:31,947 --> 00:39:34,148
the crowd show their
extreme displeasure.
550
00:39:36,867 --> 00:39:40,168
And the response shows him,
in no uncertain terms,
551
00:39:40,168 --> 00:39:41,877
that the people do not want a king.
552
00:39:44,158 --> 00:39:47,757
And so, he very ostentatiously
removes the diadem.
553
00:39:47,757 --> 00:39:51,677
He tells Antony, "Take it away!
Give it to Jupiter.
554
00:39:51,677 --> 00:39:53,927
"For in Rome, there can be
only the one king —
555
00:39:53,927 --> 00:39:55,397
"Jupiter, King of the Gods."
556
00:39:58,158 --> 00:40:02,477
The Lupercalia is really the
tipping point for Brutus.
557
00:40:02,477 --> 00:40:07,957
His family history has been geared
towards saving the Republic,
558
00:40:07,957 --> 00:40:11,827
and not allowing any man
to become the king.
559
00:40:11,827 --> 00:40:15,587
Yet here is Antony offering
Caesar a crown,
560
00:40:15,587 --> 00:40:18,028
and Brutus is powerless to stop it.
561
00:40:20,077 --> 00:40:24,797
He now realizes that Caesar is
the tyrant that Cato predicted
562
00:40:24,797 --> 00:40:28,117
he'd become, and now, he's got
to be stopped, whatever the cost.
563
00:40:33,727 --> 00:40:38,307
Later that same day,
Caesar attends a ritual sacrifice
564
00:40:38,307 --> 00:40:41,827
where the omens will reveal
the mood of the gods.
565
00:40:44,077 --> 00:40:47,517
A part of the Lupercalia is
a sacrifice to Jupiter,
566
00:40:47,517 --> 00:40:50,547
which was overseen by a man
named Spurinna,
567
00:40:50,547 --> 00:40:55,077
the priest in charge of
reading the entrails.
568
00:40:55,077 --> 00:40:58,517
He's one of the people in Rome
who performed a really important
569
00:40:58,517 --> 00:41:02,627
function in reading the signs to
determine whether the omens
570
00:41:02,627 --> 00:41:04,367
were approved by the gods.
571
00:41:07,597 --> 00:41:13,847
Spurinna must be alert to whispers,
to rumors of conspiracy.
572
00:41:13,847 --> 00:41:16,667
He will have picked up the threat,
573
00:41:16,667 --> 00:41:19,427
the danger that was closing in
on Caesar.
574
00:41:24,317 --> 00:41:27,807
Spurinna can't say out loud to
Caesar that he might be
575
00:41:27,807 --> 00:41:30,168
causing political unrest,
576
00:41:30,168 --> 00:41:32,797
but he does find a way to show him.
577
00:41:36,158 --> 00:41:39,117
Spurinna is consulting the entrails,
578
00:41:39,117 --> 00:41:42,038
reaching around inside the
slaughtered animal.
579
00:41:45,437 --> 00:41:48,397
And he is looking for
the heart of the bull...
580
00:41:50,908 --> 00:41:52,467
...and there is no heart.
581
00:41:56,918 --> 00:42:01,908
It's hard to imagine a more
terrifying or ominous portent.
582
00:42:05,627 --> 00:42:09,997
"Beware," Spurinna says,
"of the Ides of March."
583
00:42:26,557 --> 00:42:29,637
Why does Caesar ignore
these warnings?
584
00:42:29,637 --> 00:42:31,957
I mean, he absolutely could
have acted on them.
585
00:42:33,857 --> 00:42:40,007
But I think Caesar is convinced by
a sense of his own destiny.
586
00:42:42,918 --> 00:42:48,537
It is his authority, his rule
that is preserving peace in Rome.
587
00:42:48,537 --> 00:42:53,587
He thinks that no—one could
possibly be so stupid as
588
00:42:53,587 --> 00:42:54,877
to conspire against him.
589
00:42:58,007 --> 00:42:59,677
In the wake of the Lupercalia,
590
00:42:59,677 --> 00:43:02,627
there's this real hotbed
of discontent towards Caesar.
591
00:43:02,627 --> 00:43:06,397
People are really now starting
to see what Cato had seen all along.
592
00:43:09,117 --> 00:43:12,018
For the first time ever,
593
00:43:12,018 --> 00:43:14,937
Cassius now sees ordinary people
594
00:43:14,937 --> 00:43:18,477
expressing their revulsion
for Caesar's ego.
595
00:43:20,367 --> 00:43:25,607
Cassius needs to organize
senatorial forces against Caesar.
596
00:43:27,168 --> 00:43:29,679
He needs a figurehead.
597
00:43:29,679 --> 00:43:32,105
He really needs Brutus.
598
00:43:34,985 --> 00:43:39,644
People, senators, are calling
on Brutus to do something, to act.
599
00:43:40,804 --> 00:43:43,934
We see graffiti plastered over Rome,
600
00:43:43,934 --> 00:43:47,444
and it says things like,
"Brutus, are you asleep?”
601
00:43:47,444 --> 00:43:50,234
"Brutus, live up to your name."
602
00:43:50,234 --> 00:43:52,364
He has to get himself into gear,
603
00:43:52,364 --> 00:43:55,724
to free Rome from this new
threat of a monarchy.
604
00:43:58,135 --> 00:44:02,084
Brutus will know that the tide
is turning on Caesar.
605
00:44:03,314 --> 00:44:05,844
This is the right moment.
606
00:44:05,844 --> 00:44:09,724
Cassius will be able to persuade
Brutus that his better interests
607
00:44:09,724 --> 00:44:11,564
lie with the plotters.
608
00:44:11,564 --> 00:44:13,484
And they finally meet.
609
00:44:13,484 --> 00:44:16,154
There's a big question in
our sources about
610
00:44:16,154 --> 00:44:17,774
who instigated the plot,
611
00:44:17,774 --> 00:44:20,724
but the meeting of these
two minds is crucial.
612
00:44:20,724 --> 00:44:23,135
They can now test the waters.
613
00:44:23,135 --> 00:44:26,454
What are they going to do about
the problem of Caesar?
614
00:44:32,054 --> 00:44:35,644
As Caesar prepares to leave
for Parthia,
615
00:44:35,644 --> 00:44:40,414
Cassius and Brutus invite some of
Rome's most influential men
616
00:44:40,414 --> 00:44:41,684
to a dinner party.
617
00:44:43,604 --> 00:44:45,444
They can't ask questions like,
618
00:44:45,444 --> 00:44:47,604
"What do you think we should do
with Caesar?"
619
00:44:47,604 --> 00:44:49,454
They use philosophical discourse.
620
00:44:51,854 --> 00:44:56,854
Abstract, hypothetical,
even amusing discussions.
621
00:44:58,885 --> 00:45:02,244
To discuss what one should do
in the case of a tyranny
622
00:45:02,244 --> 00:45:04,524
over one's country.
623
00:45:04,524 --> 00:45:07,924
So, this is a conspiracy
of conversations.
624
00:45:10,674 --> 00:45:13,684
Cassius and Brutus manage
to bring together some
625
00:45:13,684 --> 00:45:17,354
long—standing enemies
and sceptics of Caesar —
626
00:45:17,354 --> 00:45:20,724
but also, it's possible to turn
even friends and associates
627
00:45:20,724 --> 00:45:23,044
of Caesar now.
628
00:45:23,044 --> 00:45:28,044
His power grab is just
so shameless and out of control.
629
00:45:30,804 --> 00:45:35,005
One of the things that they agree on
quite quickly is that there aren't
630
00:45:35,005 --> 00:45:36,934
really many options left.
631
00:45:38,964 --> 00:45:43,374
Caesar has the entire Roman army
at his beck and call,
632
00:45:43,374 --> 00:45:46,814
and it seems the only option
is to kill the tyrant.
633
00:45:51,664 --> 00:45:54,964
Brutus and Cassius succeed in
recruiting more than
634
00:45:54,964 --> 00:45:57,454
20 like—minded senators,
635
00:45:57,454 --> 00:46:01,094
who agree to play their part
in the tyrannicide.
636
00:46:02,404 --> 00:46:05,424
To succeed, they really have
to convince everyone that
637
00:46:05,424 --> 00:46:08,135
they're not just trying to take
power for themselves,
638
00:46:08,135 --> 00:46:11,504
but they're liberating Rome
from tyrannical rule.
639
00:46:11,504 --> 00:46:15,794
And, for this message to work,
they can't just stab Caesar in
640
00:46:15,794 --> 00:46:18,614
some street or some shady setting.
641
00:46:18,614 --> 00:46:20,784
He has to be killed in the Senate.
642
00:46:22,574 --> 00:46:25,654
But Caesar is only due at
the Senate once more
643
00:46:25,654 --> 00:46:27,494
before he departs for Parthia.
644
00:46:28,864 --> 00:46:31,135
That will be in
the middle of the month —
645
00:46:31,135 --> 00:46:32,934
the Ides of March.
646
00:46:34,194 --> 00:46:36,924
Either the conspirators act then,
647
00:46:36,924 --> 00:46:38,865
or it will be too late.
648
00:46:58,594 --> 00:47:01,204
The Ides of March, 44 BC,
649
00:47:01,204 --> 00:47:05,284
is probably the day for which
we have more information
650
00:47:05,284 --> 00:47:07,794
than any other day in
the whole of ancient history.
651
00:47:09,594 --> 00:47:13,745
Caesar is woken that morning by
his wife, Calpurnia,
652
00:47:13,745 --> 00:47:15,564
in a state of dread.
653
00:47:16,644 --> 00:47:20,304
Not only has Spurinna warned him
about the Ides of March,
654
00:47:20,304 --> 00:47:24,114
but also, his wife had a dream
in which Caesar is assassinated.
655
00:47:27,924 --> 00:47:29,604
Leaving his house that morning,
656
00:47:29,604 --> 00:47:32,374
it's his responsibility
to preside over a sacrifice.
657
00:47:39,844 --> 00:47:42,044
Spurinna is there officiating.
658
00:47:45,005 --> 00:47:47,514
And Caesar smiles and says
to Spurinna,
659
00:47:47,514 --> 00:47:52,015
"Well, the Ides of March
have arrived.”
660
00:47:52,015 --> 00:47:56,654
To which Spurinna responds,
"They have arrived, Caesar,
661
00:47:56,654 --> 00:47:58,474
"but they have not yet gone."
662
00:48:06,674 --> 00:48:10,364
So, these two things combined do
have an effect on Caesar.
663
00:48:13,474 --> 00:48:17,644
He is asked by his wife,
"Just stay for the Ides of March.
664
00:48:17,644 --> 00:48:19,314
"Don't go to the Senate house."
665
00:48:19,314 --> 00:48:22,954
And he is persuaded by this,
and he decides he won't go.
666
00:48:28,895 --> 00:48:30,895
Word reaches Brutus and Cassius
667
00:48:30,895 --> 00:48:33,684
that Caesar is not coming to
the Senate after all.
668
00:48:33,684 --> 00:48:36,234
The stakes are really high.
669
00:48:36,234 --> 00:48:39,434
They've gambled everything on
this being successful.
670
00:48:42,634 --> 00:48:45,814
The urgent necessity is to
make Caesar come to
671
00:48:45,814 --> 00:48:47,744
the meeting of the Senate.
672
00:48:47,744 --> 00:48:49,944
The conspirators send one
of their number —
673
00:48:49,944 --> 00:48:52,484
the one they thought
he would trust most —
674
00:48:52,484 --> 00:48:54,584
Decimus, one of his loyal generals.
675
00:48:58,974 --> 00:49:01,534
Decimus has been with Caesar
from the start.
676
00:49:01,534 --> 00:49:04,314
He had served under Caesar as
a military general,
677
00:49:04,314 --> 00:49:06,164
and he'd been a lifelong supporter.
678
00:49:13,484 --> 00:49:15,524
Yet, like Brutus and Cassius,
679
00:49:15,524 --> 00:49:18,534
he was now feeling disenchanted
by Caesar's regime.
680
00:49:25,154 --> 00:49:28,924
Decimus says to Caesar, "This is
behaviour unbecoming of you.
681
00:49:28,924 --> 00:49:32,164
"What am I supposed to go
and tell the Senate?
682
00:49:32,164 --> 00:49:35,284
"That you're scared of shadows?
683
00:49:35,284 --> 00:49:38,674
"That you're obedient to a
woman's importunities?
684
00:49:38,674 --> 00:49:41,314
"This is not behaviour
appropriate to Caesar."
685
00:49:43,005 --> 00:49:47,394
Caesar's whole career
had been built on courage,
686
00:49:47,394 --> 00:49:51,015
on a readiness to confront risk.
687
00:49:51,015 --> 00:49:55,364
And so, the idea that he,
of all men, would start at shadows,
688
00:49:55,364 --> 00:49:57,204
I think it's unthinkable.
689
00:49:58,875 --> 00:50:01,594
And so Caesar is shamed,
and he goes to the Senate.
690
00:50:08,194 --> 00:50:10,114
When Caesar finally leaves
his house,
691
00:50:10,114 --> 00:50:11,644
the plan kicks into action.
692
00:50:14,005 --> 00:50:17,034
The conspirators have planned
everything in detail,
693
00:50:17,034 --> 00:50:21,524
and they know that they have to
isolate Caesar from his supporters.
694
00:50:21,524 --> 00:50:24,474
They need to stop anyone from
springing to his defense,
695
00:50:24,474 --> 00:50:27,824
and they need to make it clear that
it's only Caesar's tyranny
696
00:50:27,824 --> 00:50:29,134
that they are targeting.
697
00:50:29,134 --> 00:50:32,504
That this isn't going to turn into a
bloodbath of all of his supporters.
698
00:50:32,504 --> 00:50:35,464
The one man that they need
to prevent from being
699
00:50:35,464 --> 00:50:37,544
at Caesar's side is Mark Antony.
700
00:50:42,025 --> 00:50:45,214
Antony is a big, strong,
powerful man
701
00:50:45,214 --> 00:50:48,765
who's devoted to Julius Caesar.
702
00:50:50,015 --> 00:50:54,654
Antony is kept out of
the Senate by way of conversation,
703
00:50:54,654 --> 00:50:56,164
by way of dialogue.
704
00:51:06,765 --> 00:51:11,684
Caesar goes in as the
most important person in Rome.
705
00:51:11,684 --> 00:51:15,044
All kind of senators come up
and start asking him for favors,
706
00:51:15,044 --> 00:51:16,364
asking him questions.
707
00:51:18,914 --> 00:51:21,444
Cassius watches this.
708
00:51:21,444 --> 00:51:25,394
He watches Caesar
heading for his, well,
709
00:51:25,394 --> 00:51:28,284
what is effectively his throne,
710
00:51:28,284 --> 00:51:35,084
and sees before him the vindication
of why this is necessary.
711
00:51:45,684 --> 00:51:48,524
As the first conspirator
approaches Caesar,
712
00:51:48,524 --> 00:51:50,914
Brutus must be in turmoil
713
00:51:50,914 --> 00:51:55,404
This is a man he's known his
entire life, he has supported him.
714
00:51:55,404 --> 00:51:58,885
In many respects,
he's treated him like a son.
715
00:51:58,885 --> 00:52:02,484
And yet, he also poses
the greatest threat to the Republic
716
00:52:02,484 --> 00:52:05,124
in its entire 500—year history.
717
00:52:09,604 --> 00:52:13,554
Caesar is approached by a
particularly importunate senator
718
00:52:13,554 --> 00:52:14,924
with a petition.
719
00:52:16,334 --> 00:52:17,885
He pays attention to it...
720
00:52:20,474 --> 00:52:25,114
...and suddenly, he's feeling a
searing pain on his neck.
721
00:52:37,964 --> 00:52:41,015
And he looks round,
and he sees a man with a dagger.
722
00:52:41,015 --> 00:52:44,084
It's dripping with blood —
his blood — and he cries out,
723
00:52:44,084 --> 00:52:47,224
"This is violence!
What are you doing?"
724
00:52:47,224 --> 00:52:51,755
There is an authentic tone
of shock, of surprise.
725
00:52:53,635 --> 00:52:58,524
It's deeply shocking
to see knives drawn in the Senate.
726
00:52:58,524 --> 00:53:02,564
It's one of the most extraordinary
historical moments.
727
00:53:08,454 --> 00:53:11,614
The blows continue to rain
down on Caesar
728
00:53:11,614 --> 00:53:15,214
because it has been agreed by
the assassins that all of them must
729
00:53:15,214 --> 00:53:17,324
dip their fingers in Caesar's blood,
730
00:53:17,324 --> 00:53:19,614
all of them must inflict a wound.
731
00:53:30,564 --> 00:53:34,274
The moment when Caesar
irrevocably accepts his fate
732
00:53:34,274 --> 00:53:35,765
and surrenders to it...
733
00:53:39,324 --> 00:53:43,574
...is when he sees the face of
the man who perhaps
734
00:53:43,574 --> 00:53:46,504
he had most loved, most trusted.
735
00:53:50,444 --> 00:53:52,914
Caesar says to Brutus,
736
00:53:52,914 --> 00:53:54,964
"And you, my boy?"
737
00:54:18,204 --> 00:54:21,164
As Brutus looks upon
the bloody corpse of Caesar,
738
00:54:21,164 --> 00:54:23,844
he's hoping the Senate are going
to rush to his side to
739
00:54:23,844 --> 00:54:27,924
show that this was a tyrannicide,
justly executed.
740
00:54:27,924 --> 00:54:30,895
But actually, it's a pandemonium.
741
00:54:30,895 --> 00:54:33,534
There's panic and everyone flees.
742
00:54:34,974 --> 00:54:37,334
As the liberators come out of
the Senate house,
743
00:54:37,334 --> 00:54:39,964
they're covered in blood —
and understandably,
744
00:54:39,964 --> 00:54:42,645
the people are quite confused
about what's happened.
745
00:54:44,214 --> 00:54:47,044
Brutus and Cassius think that
they'll be paraded through
746
00:54:47,044 --> 00:54:48,944
the streets as the liberators.
747
00:54:48,944 --> 00:54:51,334
But the people are scared.
748
00:54:51,334 --> 00:54:54,404
It throws Rome into a state
of violence once again.
749
00:54:58,324 --> 00:55:02,244
Brutus and Cassius thought
they were saving the Republic.
750
00:55:02,244 --> 00:55:05,814
But all they really achieved was
the creation of more chaos.
751
00:55:05,814 --> 00:55:09,914
The very chaos which Caesar had
been trying desperately
752
00:55:09,914 --> 00:55:11,914
to bring under control
753
00:55:11,914 --> 00:55:13,924
is unleashed again.
754
00:55:19,454 --> 00:55:24,974
And Caesar's body is left there
on the marble floor,
755
00:55:24,974 --> 00:55:26,844
surrounded by his own blood.
756
00:55:46,924 --> 00:55:50,254
I think the tragedy of the
Roman Republic is that
757
00:55:50,254 --> 00:55:56,174
its greatest man —
the man who, in so many ways,
758
00:55:56,174 --> 00:56:01,844
exemplified all its qualities to
an absolute pitch of achievement -
759
00:56:01,844 --> 00:56:06,434
those achievements brought the Roman
Republic crashing down into rubble.
760
00:56:08,454 --> 00:56:10,824
Caesar had greatness in many ways.
761
00:56:10,824 --> 00:56:16,684
He was a brilliant military leader,
he was a great politician.
762
00:56:16,684 --> 00:56:21,924
But ultimately, the power that
he had taken unto himself
763
00:56:21,924 --> 00:56:23,274
corrupted him.
764
00:56:24,714 --> 00:56:27,924
When Julius Caesar commenced
his political career,
765
00:56:27,924 --> 00:56:30,895
he could never have imagined
that the Roman Republic
766
00:56:30,895 --> 00:56:33,134
would come to an end.
767
00:56:33,134 --> 00:56:35,934
And he certainly couldn't
have imagined that he would be
768
00:56:35,934 --> 00:56:37,724
the agent that brought that about.
769
00:56:37,724 --> 00:56:40,895
And yet, that's what happened
in a very short time.
770
00:56:40,895 --> 00:56:44,734
What are the lessons for
modern representational systems
771
00:56:44,734 --> 00:56:47,004
that aren't nearly so old?
772
00:56:47,004 --> 00:56:50,084
Could modern democracy collapse?
773
00:56:50,084 --> 00:56:52,895
Perhaps we simply take
our political norms for granted.
774
00:56:54,004 --> 00:56:58,184
There was a moment where the
Roman Republic seemed the most
775
00:56:58,184 --> 00:56:59,934
perfect political state on Earth.
776
00:56:59,934 --> 00:57:02,934
Then it had got itself into trouble.
777
00:57:02,934 --> 00:57:05,054
And this reminds us
a bit of our own period.
778
00:57:05,054 --> 00:57:07,254
From about 1989,
democracy was on the rise.
779
00:57:07,254 --> 00:57:10,004
The number of democracies
in the world doubled.
780
00:57:10,004 --> 00:57:14,015
And then, a period of deep,
deep uncertainty began,
781
00:57:14,015 --> 00:57:16,436
including the rise of populism.
782
00:57:16,436 --> 00:57:20,856
And it's in that environment
authoritarianisms rise,
783
00:57:20,856 --> 00:57:24,887
that strong men come forward
to challenge democracy.
784
00:57:26,806 --> 00:57:29,526
I think the Caesar story
really is a wake—up call.
785
00:57:30,986 --> 00:57:34,106
Democracy has to be
constantly fought for.
786
00:57:34,106 --> 00:57:39,076
If we take it for granted,
a new Caesar will come.
787
00:57:42,566 --> 00:57:44,796
After 500 years,
788
00:57:44,796 --> 00:57:48,846
the Roman Republic dies
with Julius Caesar,
789
00:57:48,846 --> 00:57:52,726
and Rome is plunged once more
into civil war.
790
00:57:54,076 --> 00:57:55,966
In the decades that follow,
791
00:57:55,966 --> 00:57:59,326
it will be fought over by
Brutus, Cassius,
792
00:57:59,326 --> 00:58:01,767
Mark Anthony, and a boy -
793
00:58:01,767 --> 00:58:05,026
named in Caesar's will as his heir,
794
00:58:05,026 --> 00:58:06,537
Octavian.
795
00:58:07,787 --> 00:58:12,986
Ultimately, Caesar's death marks
the beginning of an era of emperors
796
00:58:12,986 --> 00:58:16,856
that will endure for the
next 500 years.
797
00:58:18,816 --> 00:58:22,496
We know that Romans were keen
to imagine that people might talk
798
00:58:22,496 --> 00:58:24,496
about them long into the future.
799
00:58:24,496 --> 00:58:26,636
But, of course, 2,000 years on,
800
00:58:26,636 --> 00:58:29,636
we're definitely still
talking about Caesar.
801
00:58:29,636 --> 00:58:35,946
And I'm sure that Caesar would be
absolutely delighted to know
802
00:58:35,946 --> 00:58:39,586
that his glory, his fame,
endures into the present day.
67449
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