alternatehistory.com

Part I: The Ides of March






"And you, Brutus?" the Dictator shouted to the crowd of trembling Senators. All but one had confessed to their murderous plans. But not Marcus Junius Brutus. A guard raised his dagger to the man's throat, but Caesar urged him away with a wave of his hand. "Let me speak to him myself," he ordered the guards. "Have the others executed in public before they can do further wrong."
__________________________________________________

Minutes before, Marcus Antonius had come sprinting up the steps of the Forum just as Caesar was preparing to enter. "Wait! Wait, I beg you. Do not enter alone."

"Dear friend Antonius, what has gotten into you?" Caesar replied with a smirk.

"I heard a terrible rumor last night." Antonius said between heaving breaths. "Casca and the others were making plans. I believe," Antonius paused, watching the Dictator's face darken into a grimace. "I believe they might have been...planning to kill you."

Caesar simply stared at the man he had once considered the closest of friends, the man who had so offered him a crown not once, but three times at the Lupercalia festival. And now, the man who might save his life. "I see," Caesar growled. "Summon my guards."
__________________________________________________

"I knew nothing of the plot. I swear, by Jupiter!" said Brutus as the Dictator leaned over him in the small antechamber. Seven guards stood by, their spears aimed at Brutus as Caesar stared into his friend's eyes. Caesar stepped back a moment, and gestured to the nearest guard. The man lifted the Senator's toga and found, fastened to Brutus's belt, an iron dagger.

"I admit the deed," Brutus whimpered, as one of the guards snatched the dagger and the other wrestled him against the wall. "But please, Caesar, have mercy on your friend!"

"I will give you my mercy," replied the leader of the Roman Republic. "After your trial, you will die with dignity."

__________________________________________________

Portrait of Caesar: By Clara Grosch (Own work (photo)) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Author's Notes:

The idea of preventing Caesar's assassination has probably been done many times by alternate historians, but I wanted to give it a try, because I like the broad realm of possibilities that ancient PoD's provide, and I think well-known PoD's are likely to engage the audience. This timeline, if I choose to continue it, will not follow the dialogue-based style of the opening passage. It will most likely read like a history textbook, although I may include anecdotes like this one every now and then.

As for my future plans for the course of events, I'm not entirely sure. I don't want this timeline to be a Rome-wank or a Rome-screw, but rather an examination of the external and internal problems Rome was going through shortly before and during the time of Christ. Speaking of which, Christianity might take quite a different path in this timeline than it did in real history. I am open to suggestions on what to include and what not to include, and how to improve the plausibility and presentation of the events that will follow. Thank you for reading.



Top