Julius Caesar's Betrayal and Famous Last Words

Julius Caesar's Betrayal and Famous Last Words

When stabbed 23 times in Rome on March 15, 44 BCE, Julius Caesar supposedly addressed his close friend Brutus. While Shakespeare popularized "Et tu, Brute?", historical accounts by Suetonius suggest Caesar actually said nothing or whispered "You too, child?" in Greek. This moment marked the end of the Roman Republic.

Famous last words

Chapter 1

Royal exits and fallen rulers

Chapter 2

Minds of science and philosophy

Chapter 3

Artists, writers, and creative souls

Chapter 4

Outlaws, rebels, and unexpected wits

Ch 1 · Royal exits and fallen rulers

schopenhauer Fallen Rulers

She stepped upon his shoe, on her way to die (on her way) / 'Pardon me, sir, I didn't mean to' (pardon me, sir)

schopenhauer Augustus Caesar and the theater of life

Augustus Caesar and the theater of life

schopenhauer Rome's first emperor treated his entire reign as a grand theatrical performance.

Fun Fact

Imperial final words: Roman Emperor Vespasian died in 79 CE jokingly declaring, "Dear me, I think I am becoming a god!"

Marie Antoinette's polite final apology

schopenhauer France's last queen apologized to her executioner right before her death in 1793.

Glossary

regicide (noun)
The deliberate killing of a monarch. In 1649, the execution of King Charles I of England marked a historic act of regicide.

Quiz

Which French queen apologized to her executioner for stepping on his foot in 1793?

Gossip

Which royal exit do you find most memorable?

Winston's Boredom Box

BETA

schopenhauer Test your history knowledge with this trivia game about Winston Churchill's famous last words and his ultimate expression of boredom.

schopenhauer Marie Antoinette's polite final apology

Quiz

What French execution tool was used to execute Marie Antoinette in Paris?

schopenhauer The dramatic betrayal of Julius Caesar

Quiz

To whom did Alexander the Great reportedly leave his empire when he died in 323 BCE?

schopenhauer The mysterious last words of Alexander the Great

Quiz

In what city did Julius Caesar face his betrayal on the Ides of March in 44 BCE?

Quiz

What did Roman Emperor Augustus ask his friends to do as his life ended in 14 CE?

Quiz

Which Roman Emperor humorously claimed he was "becoming a god" as he lay dying in 79 CE?

Quiz

Which British prime minister famously muttered "I'm bored with it all" before passing away in 1965?

Quiz

In 44 BCE, which Roman ruler's famous final words were popularized by William Shakespeare?