Brutus
“Et Tu, Brute (You too, Brutus)?” the classic words said by those betrayed by someone they considered close, and reportedly uttered by Caesar as he was stabbed to death by senators led by Brutus. Alternatively, he may have said, “you too, my child” showing that he either loved Brutus as a son or may have even been Brutus’ true father.
Julius Caesar had an astounding military career, first conquering Gaul, then conquering Romans who opposed his rule or plans for Rome. Through the civil war, Caesar would eventually find himself as the dictator of Rome. Not your average dictator, Caesar did quite a bit of good for Rome in general and especially for many of the lower classes. He had even made plans to set out to conquer Parthia, one of Rome’s most deadly and defiant enemies in the east.
Brutus had initially fought against Caesar in the civil war but decided to change sides after the Battle of Pharsalus. Caesar was famous for giving second chances and Brutus was happily welcomed back by the eventual dictator. Eventually, Caesar won the war but remained as a dictator. Brutus saw himself as a champion of the Republic and resented Caesar’s seizure of absolute power; after all, Brutus’ ancestor was the man who led the overthrow of the last Roman king and established the Republic.
On the Ides (15th) of March, 44 BCE, Caesar was attacked by about 30 Senators. Daggers flew from folds in their elegant togas and the unarmed Caesar had no hope against the onslaught. After sustaining dozens of wounds, Caesar succumbed, pulling his toga up to hide his face.
After this, Brutus and the conspirators had a brief window as “liberators of the Republic” but were soon hunted down by Caesar’s adopted son, Octavian and Marc Antony. Brutus was killed or more likely committed suicide during or just after the Battle of Philippi. Antony and Octavian had their own war after that that would leave Octavian the last winner of a seemingly endless string of civil wars. Octavian became Augustus, the first official Emperor of Rome.
Again, we have another what if alternate history of Caesar campaigning against the Parthians, an enemy his predecessors and successors would fail to conquer. An early and lasting hold on Mesopotamia and beyond could have drastically altered the development of Rome and brought it massive amounts of wealth. We will never know, however, as Brutus thanked Caesar’s mercy and amnesty with a literal stab in the back.