Fact From Fiction: What Really Happened on the Ides of March?

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In this video:

In William Shakespeare’s play “Julius Caesar,” Caesar mocks the soothsayer’s earlier prediction to “Beware the Ides of March.” Later, Caesar says, “The Ides of March have come” to point out the supposed dreaded day did not bring disaster. The soothsayer responds with a prophetic point, “Ay, Caesar; but not gone.” Shortly thereafter, Caesar is stabbed many times over by conspirators in the Senate, including by his good friend Marcus Brutus. As he lies dying, Caesar mumbles those infamous last words, “Et tu, Brute? Then fall, Caesar!”

Sources:

[randomobserver]

"The Ides of March are come."
"Aye, Caesar, but not gone."
The soothsayer's reply to Caesar's cocky remark on the morning of his last day. My fave bit of dialogue in all Shakespeare.

[MsBELLE]

Hearing that Lincoln's son was alive in 1922 really puts into perspective how close we truly are still to that class always made it seem like so long ago.

[_Abjuranax_]

If you look at the fates of the Roman Emperors, assassination of some form was the norm and not the exception. Very few of them died peacefully in their beds from natural causes. One was even tore apart by the mobs.

[josephteller]

Regarding Caesar's Symptoms:

Epilepsy later in life can be caused by a head injury, it is not specifically a childhood manifesting condition. I have known two people who developed it, one thru a soccer injury and one from a car accident. Also heard of a relative who developed it after being thrown from a horse without protective headgear.

The wider Symptoms that were mentioned could also be the result of a far more common problem in Roman times that is often ignored by modern historians when interpreting materials : Malaria.

[shanek]

Et tu brute, (bru-tay) or “you too Brutus?” Heart broken he can’t believe even his friend Brutus is in on it.

[jeanlannes]

Also, many of the things the Senate claimed Cæsar which was illegal was also done by Pompey but with Senate approval. Pompey holding any positions actually was illegal since he never formally went through the Cursus Honorum.

[jasonremy]

John Green: "Mispronouncing names is my thing"
Simon Whistler: "Hold my beer..."

[diyeana]

Shouldn't this video been shared on March 15?

[karenjarrett]

Simon, this was most interesting. Thank you for all the work you put Tito creating this upload. Bravo!

[michaeltobias]

My sister was born on the ides of March. RIP Big Sis. I love & miss you

[JaelaOrdo]

“The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones.”

[WhompingWalrus]

If you guys like this sort of topic. I'll totally recommend Historia Civilis. Simon has a little bit of content on ancient Rome, but HC is the king of making all of that stuff supremely entertaining & informative, & he has a lot of it.

[auldrick]

16:05 "Isntagram quidditch vis est!" What the heck is that, some kind of Easter egg? Simon, somebody is playing you for a fool!

[eval_is_evil]

Lisa : Beware the Ides of March
Homer : No

[Trapster]

You missed something. One Roman historian of the time wrote that Ceasar's last words were, "You too Brutus, my SON".

Julius Caesar had a love affair with Brutis's mother. Either biological or by regard, Caesar saw Brutus as part of his family. All of the figures you mention in this historical time, Ceasar, Pompeii, Marcus Anthony, Octavian, etc., were FAMILY either by birth or marriage.

[Mad-Bassist]

Good video! It's interesting to see where the Ides of March were used in Shakespeare's writing as well as the bonus bits concerning the Booth brothers.

[markchip]

Yes, I'm a pedant!
The quote is in Latin, not French....
The pronunciation should be thus"ett too, Brut'ay"

[volkerkamin]

Changing "Ista quidem vis est!" to "Isntagram quidditch vis est!" (16:00) made my day :D

[steiny]

I think your videos are extremely interesting, and well presented. Thank you.

[johncavanaugh]

Okay, I am dying here - the Roman general is Pompey (like "pompy") not Pompeii which was the city destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE.