Karl Theodor von Piloty Murder of Caesar 1865

Publius Servilius Casca Longus (died c. 42 BC) was one of the assassins of

Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in a civil war, and ...

. He and several other senators conspired to kill him, a plan which they carried out on 15 March, 44 BC. Afterwards, Casca fought with the liberators during the Liberators' civil war. He is believed to have died by suicide after their defeat at the

Battle of Philippi The Battle of Philippi was the final battle in the Wars of the Second Triumvirate between the forces of Mark Antony and Octavian (of the Second Triumvirate) and the leaders of Julius Caesar's assassination, Brutus and Cassius in 42 BC, at P ...

in 42 BC.

Life

Despite his being initially a childhood friend of Caesar, Casca and his brother Titedius joined in the assassination. Casca struck the first blow, attacking Caesar from behind and hitting his bare shoulders, after

Tillius Cimber Lucius Tillius Cimber (died 42 BC) was a Roman senator. He was one of the assassins of Julius Caesar, creating the diversion that enabled the conspirators to attack. Assassin Cimber was initially one of Caesar's strongest supporters. Caesar grant ...

had distracted the dictator by grabbing his toga. Caesar replied "Casca, you villain, what are you doing?" and tussled with him for several seconds. Casca simultaneously shouted to his brother in Greek, "Brother, help me!" The other assassins then joined in. At the time Casca held the office of

tribune of the plebs Tribune of the plebs, tribune of the people or plebeian tribune ( la, tribunus plebis) was the first office of the Roman Republic, Roman state that was open to the plebs, plebeians, and was, throughout the history of the Republic, the most importan ...

. After the assassination he fled Rome, and his colleague in the tribunate, Publius Titius, had him deprived of his office. Casca joined

Marcus Junius Brutus Marcus Junius Brutus (; ; 85 BC – 23 October 42 BC), often referred to simply as Brutus, was a Roman politician, orator, and the most famous of the assassins of Julius Caesar. After being adopted by a relative, he used the name Quintus Serv ...

and

Gaius Cassius Longinus Gaius Cassius Longinus (c. 86 BC – 3 October 42 BC) was a Roman senator and general best known as a leading instigator of the plot to assassinate Julius Caesar on 15 March 44 BC. He was the brother-in-law of Brutus, another leader of the cons ...

, the leaders of the assassins, during the Liberators' civil war against the

Second Triumvirate The Second Triumvirate was an extraordinary commission and magistracy created for Mark Antony, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, and Octavian to give them practically absolute power. It was formally constituted by law on 27 November 43 BC with a ...

, Caesar's former supporters. He seems to have died, probably by suicide, in the aftermath of their defeat at the

, in October 42 BC. Casca is commemorated on a coin along with Brutus, in which a bearded figure is depicted next to his name. However, this appears to be the god

Neptune Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun and the farthest known planet in the Solar System. It is the fourth-largest planet in the Solar System by diameter, the third-most-massive planet, and the densest giant planet. It is 17 times ...

rather than a portrait of Casca.Wayne G. Sayles, ''Ancient Coin Collecting III: The Roman World-Politics and Propaganda'', Krause Publications, 2007, p.16 A house containing a table inscribed with his name is found in

Pompeii Pompeii (, ) was an ancient city located in what is now the ''comune'' of Pompei near Naples in the Campania region of Italy. Pompeii, along with Herculaneum and many villas in the surrounding area (e.g. at Boscoreale, Stabiae), was buried ...

Dramatic depictions

* He is called "envious Casca" by

Mark Antony Marcus Antonius (14 January 1 August 30 BC), commonly known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman politician and general who played a critical role in the transformation of the Roman Republic from a constitutional republic into the autoc ...

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

's play ''

'' (1599): **"See what a rent the envious Casca made". The two words became the title of a mystery novel by Georgette Heyer. * In the 1934 film ''

Cleopatra Cleopatra VII Philopator ( grc-gre, Κλεοπάτρα Φιλοπάτωρ}, "Cleopatra the father-beloved"; 69 BC10 August 30 BC) was Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt from 51 to 30 BC, and its last active ruler.She was also a ...

'', Casca is portrayed by Edwin Maxwell. * In the 1937–38

Mercury Theatre The Mercury Theatre was an independent repertory theatre company founded in New York City in 1937 by Orson Welles and producer John Houseman. The company produced theatrical presentations, radio programs and motion pictures. The Mercury also ...

stage production ''

Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman people, Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in Caes ...

'', Publius was played by Joseph Cotten. * In the 1953 film of Shakespeare's ''

'', Casca is portrayed by Edmond O'Brien. * In the 1963 film ''

'', Casca is portrayed by Carroll O'Connor. * In the 1970 film of Shakespeare's ''

'', Casca is portrayed by Robert Vaughn. * In the 1999 miniseries ''

'', Casca is portrayed by David Schofield. * In the TV series ''

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

'' (2005–07), Casca is portrayed by Peter Gevisser.

References

External links

Appian, ''The Civil Wars,'' Book 2 Chapter 16
from the Perseus Project
Plutarch, ''Lives'', ''Caesar'', Chapter 66
from the Perseus Project
Brutus - Casca coin
{{DEFAULTSORT:Servilius Casca, Publius 42 BC deaths 1st-century BC Romans Ancient Roman politicians Ancient Roman politicians who committed suicide Assassins of Julius Caesar Casca, Publius Suicides in Italy Year of birth unknown

Life

Dramatic depictions

See also

References

External links