Abstract: | The issue of secrecy of conspiracy organised against C. Iulius Caesar by M. Iunius Brutus
and G. Cassius Longinus, the consequence of which was murdering the dictator on March 15
44 B.C, is dealt with by the author from two different perspectives.
Firstly, he discusses the very actions of conspirators, the aim of which was to hide their
moves, as well as favourable factors and circumstances. Thus, he accentuates the masking
actions taken by them, a careful choice of participants of the involvement into a conspiracy, its
organization in two stages, a careful planning of the attempt on the dictator and a well‑thought
choice of place for its realization. He also emphasizes the dullness of Caesar’s diligence as well
as that of politicians loyal to him, the use of some of his actions, his self‑confidence,
lack of
suspicion, gentleness, resignation from the services of qualified security, ignoring warnings or
getting allies from his closest environment.
Secondly, the author presents the factors and circumstances that did not allow for keeping
the very involvement into a conspiracy secret. He shows both the ones that got out of control, and those they did not influence. All of them could be the reason why the information on the
conspiracy came out and unmasked it. In this context, he pays attention to the role of ominous
signs sent to Caesar from gods, predictions and the results of offering made that were not
beneficial for him, a big number of conspirators, a wide circle of their loved ones, friends,
acquaintances and servants, ass well as a hasty, especially in the last weeks, development of
conspiracy and, which may be connected with the choice of his final scenario ― delaying the
moment of murdering the dictator.
The result of the considerations conducted is the conclusion that it is difficult to speak of
the secrecy of the conspiracy organised by M. Iunius Brutus and C. Cassius Longinus against
Caesar in an explicit way. The success of the attempt, in the light of leak of information on an
intended murder of the dictator, was to a large extent, the result of a happy coincidence rather
than the effect of keeping the secret by the conspirators. |