by In Trieste
The Ides of March was the 74th day in the Roman calendar, determined by the full moon, and corresponded to 15 March.
It was traditionally marked by several religious observances and festivals and was also used by Romans as a landmark deadline for settling debts.
However the date took on a whole new significance in 44 BC when the assassination of Julius Caesar made the Ides of March a turning point in Roman history.
Immensely popular with the people in Rome, Caesar was a successful military leader who expanded the republic to include parts of what are now Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland and Belgium.
Caesar, who had seized power from the Roman Republic and declared himself a dictator for life, was killed by a group of 60 conspirators led by his senator friends, Brutus and Cassius.
The Roman historical group in Trieste normally stages a spectacular historical re-enactment of the assassination by the San Giusto castle however this has been curtailed due to Italy’s covid restrictions.
