Short- Incomplete Draft, does it flow?

Michael Parenti's 2003 novel The Assassination of Julius Caesar: A peoples history of Rome, the history of how and why the great Roman General of the late Republic was Assassinated by his peers in Society, his friends. The Causation for this Assassination as given by the Assassins themselves was that “the senatorial assassins where intent in restoring republican liberties by doing away with a despotic usurper”.¹ This is also how the ancient Historians, Plutarch and Suetonius record the events. However Parenti strangely does not accept this causation he believes that,

“The Senate aristocrats killed Caesar because they perceived him to be a popular leader who threatened there privileged interest”² I plan to explore the differing opinions of the past historians Plutarch and Suetonius to that of the modern Historian and writer Michael Parenti. Evaluating what is different, why it is different and give my oppinion on the reliability of the accounts.

Julius Caesar the great Roman General and Censor for Life, was Assassinated in a meeting hall adjacent to Pompeys theatre on the 15^th of March 44BC. The Assassination itself is not disputed in History and we have numerous records of the event.

“As soon as Caesar took his seat the conspirators crowded around him as if to pay their respects. Tillius Cimber, who had taken the lead, came up close, pretending to ask a question. Caesar made a gesture of postponement, but Cimber caught hold of his shoulders. 'This is violence!' Caesar cried, and at that moment one of the Casca brothers slipped behind him and with a sweep of his dagger stabbed him just below the throat...Twenty-three dagger thrusts went home as he stood there”³

This single act of violence, led to a series of civil wars between Marcus Antony and Gaius Octavius which eventually led to the fall of the Roman Republic.

The Pre believed reasons as stated by ancient and modern scholars alike, including Plutarch and Suetonius were that the conspirators and assassins were idealists that still truly believed in the power of the Roman republic. Their dedication to the to the ancient Roman tradition of shared power was genuine. These men could never see their beloved Rome ruled by a single man was something they could not bear. Many of the Assassins were men who's Ancestors had fought and died for the Republic and to preserve their constitutional freedom. But now, they were serving the unofficial 'King' of Rome. So these men, many friends of Caesar took action in their own hands

Micheal Parenti is a modern day political writer from the united states, he has many works but is not well known for his historical works. Parenti has written only two historical works The Assassination of Julius Caesar and History is mystery. In his works of History Parenti has the belief that History in written by winners, by great men for great men about great men. He refers to the Historians who write in this way 'Gentlemen Historians'.

“gentlemen ,was one who sported an uncommonly polished manner and affluent lifestyle , and who presented himself as prosperous, politically conservative, and properly classed in the art of ethno-class supremacism”⁴

This ?theory? Attempts to explain the rough trend in how history has been written throughout the ages. He believes that History was written by well off men, you could afford to write instead of work. “Gentlemens History, a genre heavily indebted to an upper class ideological perspective”⁵

Parenti's lists all the Historians he views as “Gentleman Chroniclers”. Parenti in his work lists both Suetonius and Plutarch as Gentlemen Chroniclers and uses this to attempt to reason his new theory for Caesars Assassination. He believes because Plutarch and Suetonius are 'Gentlemen' their works on Caesar are biased towards the libertii or higher class of the late Roman Republic, so they're works are tended to make judgements and statements that are of a higher class view. Parenti also notes that they make little mention of the plebian Society of the Roman Republic.

“many historians, both ancient and modern, have portrayed the common people of Rome as being little better than a noisome rabble and riotous mob. In word and action, wealthy Romans made no secret of their fear and hatred of the common people and of anyone else who infringed upon their class prerogatives”⁶

Parenti uses his gentlemens historian theory to discredit the pre concieved theories for why Caesar was Assassinated. This theory is one invented by Parenti in which he notes that most History is biased towards powerful people and interests. This being because no working man had the time or money to be able to write history. Only very well off men had the free time to engage in the researching or writing of History. So Parenti believes that when only the Wealthy men of society are writing or funding men to write history, the issues being written about are the concerns of the elite in Society and no one else.