Was the architect of Julius Caesar's assassination a secret follower of Epicurus?

History · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Gaius Cassius Longinus is remembered as the mastermind behind the Ides of March, yet his inner life remains a historical puzzle. A dedicated student of philosophy, Cassius navigated the violent collapse of the Roman Republic while attempting to reconcile his political actions with the quietist teachings of Epicureanism.

Born into an ancient Roman family in about 86 BC, Cassius was a career soldier and politician who rose to prominence during the chaotic final years of the Republic. He served as a quaestor under Marcus Licinius Crassus during the disastrous 53 BC campaign against the Parthian Empire, where he earned a reputation for tactical brilliance by organizing a successful defense after the Roman defeat at Carrhae. By 44 BC, he had become a praetor, yet he grew deeply resentful of the political dominance of Julius Caesar and the promotion of his own brother-in-law, Marcus Brutus.

The assassination of Caesar on 15 March 44 BC was, according to many accounts, driven by Cassius, who acted as the primary organizer of the conspiracy. Following the murder, he fled to the East, where he amassed an army of twelve legions and was officially recognized as a governor by the Senate. His military career ended in 42 BC at the Battle of Philippi, where he was defeated by the forces of Mark Antony and Octavian. Believing his cause was lost, he ordered his freeman Pindarus to assist him in taking his own life.

Beyond his military record, Cassius is a subject of intense scholarly debate regarding his philosophical commitments. Sometime between 48 and 45 BC, he adopted Epicureanism, a school of thought that typically advocated for withdrawal from public life. Historians like Arnaldo Momigliano have argued that Cassius developed a 'heroic Epicureanism,' using the philosophy to justify the removal of a tyrant who threatened the Roman concept of liberty. However, other scholars, such as Miriam Griffin, suggest that his intellectual interests may have remained entirely separate from his political career. Regardless of his intent, his legacy was cemented in literature; Dante placed him in the lowest circle of Hell alongside Judas Iscariot, while Shakespeare immortalized him as the dangerous, 'lean and hungry' thinker who plotted against Caesar.

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