Gaius Cassius Longinus

Biography

Gaius Cassius Longinus was the organizing intellect of the Ides of March conspiracy — the man who recruited the other conspirators, planned the operation, chose the Theatre of Pompey as the site, and persuaded the wavering Brutus that the action was necessary. Without Cassius there would have been no conspiracy; without Brutus there would have been no moral cover. It was a partnership of political genius and philosophical principle that unraveled within hours of its apparent success. Cassius was a general of real ability — he had commanded the rear guard of Crassus's catastrophic defeat at Carrhae in 53 BC, organized the survivors into a coherent force, and defended Syria against the Parthian counterattack. He was practical where Brutus was idealistic, which is why their relationship was so productive and so tense. He had wanted Antony killed along with Caesar; he was overruled by Brutus. He predicted the consequences; they arrived on schedule. At the first Battle of Philippi, Cassius's wing was overwhelmed by Antony's attack. Sending a scout to determine what was happening on Brutus's side — where the Caesarians were actually losing — Cassius misread the scout's return as further bad news and concluded the entire battle was lost. He ordered his freedman Pindarus to kill him. Minutes later, messengers arrived with news that Brutus had won his half of the battle and that Cassius had died unnecessarily. Brutus covered his body and called him 'the last of the Romans.'

Key Battles