The Ides of March

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

17. The assassination of Caesar shows a great example of the law of unintended consequences

Brutus, Cassius et al believed that Caesar was harming the Roman Republic, and their killing him was an act of tyrannicide. However, the assassination touched off a civil war which brought down the Roman Republic.

Admittedly, the Republic had been teetering for the better part of a century, with the Senate's rejection of the attempts by the Gracchi brothers to reform the Republic. It is evident to modern eyes that Sulla's First Civil War in 88-87 BCE marked the beginning of the end of the Republic. This was followed by Sulla's dictatorship in 83, which essentially lasted until his death in 78. Things kept going downhill -- the First Triumvirate, the Second Triumvirate, Caesar being named Dictator For Life in 49.