In October 42 BC, one of the largest and most important set of battles in Roman history occurred near the town of Philippi in what is now northern Greece. The fate of these two clashes would decide the future direction of Rome – a vital moment during this ancient civilisation’s transition to one man, imperial rule.
In October 42 BC the Roman Republic committed suicide. Near the town of Philippi in northern Greece the forces of Brutus and Cassius, the famous assassins of Julius Caesar and the last surviving cheerleaders of the Roman Republic, faced off against the armies of Marc Antony and young Octavian. Two separate battles were fought, the results of which decided the future direction of Rome.
It had only been two years earlier that one of the most recognisable events in Classical history had occurred, when Julius Caesar was assassinated on 15 March 44 BC. ‘The Ides of March’. Many of these assassins had been young Republicans, influenced by the likes of Cato the Younger and Pompey to kill Caesar and restore the Republic.
The Assassination of Julius Caesar by Vincenzo Camuccini
The two most prominent assassins were Marcus Junius Brutus (Brutus) and Gaius Cassius Longinus (Cassius). Brutus was temperamentally mild and philosophical. Cassius meanwhile was a stellar military figure. He had distinguished himself both during Crassus’ disastrous eastern campaign against the Parthians and during the ensuing civil war between Pompey and Caesar.
Cassius, Brutus and the rest of the conspirators succeeded in assassinating Caesar, but their plan for what would happen next seems to have lacked attention.
