March 14 and 15, 44 BCE.
With friends like this who needs enemies?
Decimus Junius
Brutus Albinus was a distant relative of
Marcus Brutus. He was known as one of Julius Caesar's "most intimate associates" and a friend of
Mark Antony. Albinus
had served under
Caesar in both the Gallic Wars and the Civil War. He participated in the siege of Massilia (Marseilles) that held out against
Caesar for months. He also commanded a Caesarian fleet.
Plutarch considered Albinus "of no great
courage," but Albinus was a faithful and loyal supporter of
Caesar. He was to be
Consul in 42 BC along with
Lucius Plancus. While awaiting the consulship Albinus was to become Governor of Cisalpine
Gaul when the post became available in the
spring of 44 BC
Albinus was approached by Cassius and Labeo to involve him in the conspiracy to murder
Caesar. Albinus while willing wanted to make sure
Marcus Brutus was involved before agreeing to the plot. After meeting with
Brutus he agreed. Both
Brutus and Albinus received notification of a meeting of the Senate to be held on
March 15th. Albinus agreed to use an exhibition of
his Gladiators after the meeting as protection in case things got out of hand after the murder
had taken place. Caesar's retired legionaries were all around the city and none of the conspirators knew how they would react at Caesar's death.
At a dinner at the house of
Marcus Lepidus on the night of
March 14, 44 BC Caesar was in attendance along with Decimus
Brutus. Towards the end of the night Caesar's secretary approached for him to sign some letters. As he was signing Albinus posed a philosophical question to him: "What sort of death is best?"
Caesar answered "A sudden one"
The next morning the Senate awaited
Caesar to arrive. Caesar's wife
Calpurnia and the auspices warned
Caesar not to attend the meeting. When
Caesar delayed the conspirator's sent Albinus to Caesar's house. Albinus convinced
Caesar to at least postpone the meeting in person. Antony was against this idea but
Caesar decided to attend. As
Caesar made
his way to the Theater of Pompey a slave tried slipping him a note warning of the assassination plot, but being hard pressed by the people he failed to read it. Antony was detained outside the meeting while
Caesar was murdered by the conspirators in the Theater of Pompey in the Campus
Martius, Albinus being a key player in the conspiracy.
Beware the Ides of March.
