Gaius Cassius Longinus facts for kids
Gaius Cassius Longinus (born before 85 BC – died October 42 BC) was an important Roman senator. He was a main leader in the plan to kill Julius Caesar. He was also the brother-in-law of Brutus.
Contents
Life Story
Early Years
We don't know much about Cassius's early life. He studied philosophy in Rhodes and became very good at speaking Greek. He was married to Tertulla, who was the half-sister of Brutus, his fellow plotter. They had one son.
First Steps in Politics
Cassius's first official job was as a quaestor in 53 BC. A quaestor was a Roman official who managed public money. He worked under Marcus Licinius Crassus. Cassius proved to be a good military leader. He traveled with Crassus to the Roman province of Syria. He tried to tell Crassus not to attack Parthia, suggesting they should secure a safe base first.
Crassus did not listen to Cassius. He led the army into the Battle of Carrhae. This battle was a huge defeat for the Romans. Cassius managed to save what was left of the army. Crassus was killed, but Cassius escaped with some soldiers.
For two years, Cassius governed Syria. He defended the border against attacks from Parthia. He even defeated a Parthian commander. Cicero, another famous Roman, congratulated Cassius on his victory.
The Roman Civil War
Cassius returned to Rome two years later. A civil war broke out between Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great. This war saved Cassius from being put on trial for his actions in Syria. In 49 BC, Cassius was elected Tribune of the Plebs. A Tribune was an official who protected the rights of common people. He sided with Pompey and left Italy when Caesar marched in. He met Pompey in Greece and became the commander of Pompey's fleet.
In 48 BC, Cassius sailed his ships to Sicilia. There, he attacked and burned a large part of Caesar's navy. He then bothered ships along the Italian coast. When he heard that Pompey had lost the Battle of Pharsalus, Cassius headed for the Hellespont. Caesar caught up with Cassius on the way. Cassius was forced to surrender to Caesar without any conditions.
Caesar made Cassius a legate, which was a military officer. Caesar sent him to North Africa. However, Cassius refused to fight against Cato and Scipio there. Instead, he chose to go back to Rome.
The Plot Against Caesar
Cassius did not hold any public office for the next two years. During this time, he became better friends with Cicero. In 44 BC, he became a praetor peregrinus. This was a judge who handled cases involving foreigners. He was promised the province of Syria for the next year. However, he was very upset when Brutus, who was less experienced, was made praetor urbanus. This was a more important judge position in Rome.
Cassius was the main person who started the plot against Caesar. He convinced the other assassins to join. But Brutus became the overall leader of the group. On the Ides of March in 44 BC, Cassius encouraged his fellow "Liberators" and struck Caesar in the face. The plotters called themselves the "Liberators" because they believed they were freeing Rome from a tyrant.
They succeeded in killing Caesar, but their celebration did not last long. Mark Antony quickly gained power and turned the public against them. Some people, like Cicero, complained that Rome was still under a dictator. This was because the "Liberators" had not killed Antony too. Some stories say that Cassius wanted to kill Antony at the same time as Caesar, but Brutus stopped him.
After Caesar's Death
Cassius had a good reputation in the East. This made it easy for him to gather an army from other governors in the area. By this time, the Senate had sided with Cassius against Antony. They made Cassius the governor of Syria. Cassius was strong enough to march on Egypt. But then, the Second Triumvirate was formed. This was an alliance of three powerful Roman leaders: Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus. Brutus asked Cassius for help. Cassius quickly joined Brutus in Smyrna with most of his army. He left his nephew to govern Syria.
The plotters decided to attack the Triumvirate's allies in Asia. Cassius attacked and looted Rhodes. Brutus did the same to Lycia. They met again the next year in Sardis. Their armies declared them 'emperor'. They crossed the Hellespont and marched through Thrace. They set up camp near Philippi in Macedon.
Octavian (who later became Emperor Augustus) and Mark Antony soon arrived. Cassius planned to wait them out. He thought he could starve them by using his good position. However, Antony forced them into a battle, known as the Battle of Philippi. Brutus won against Octavian and captured his camp. But Cassius was defeated by Antony's forces. Cassius did not know about Brutus's victory. So, he took his own life.
His Philosophy
Cassius followed a school of thought called Epicureanism. This philosophy was founded by Epicurus. It taught that the goal of life was to achieve a calm and peaceful state of mind.
Historians say that Cassius chose Epicureanism not just for a peaceful life. He used it to find a reason to kill a tyrant like Caesar. This was a new way to think about Epicureanism. Usually, this philosophy did not encourage active political action.
Later, during the Roman Empire, people who opposed the government usually followed Stoicism. This made it harder for historians of that time to understand Cassius. They found him less admirable than Brutus.
In Books and Plays
In Dante's famous poem, Inferno, Cassius is shown in the very center of Hell. He is one of three people being chewed by Satan for all eternity. This is his punishment for killing Julius Caesar. The other two are Brutus and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus Christ. (Canto XXXIV)
In Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, Cassius is shown as a clever person who can manipulate others. Caesar says about him, "Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look; He thinks too much: such men are dangerous." (Act I, Scene II, lines 190-195)
See also
In Spanish: Cayo Casio Longino para niños
