[[Image:Caesar.jpg|right|thumb|Bust of Julius Caesar, the character for whom the play is named. However, Caesar is not the central character and is killed in the middle of the play.|200px]]
'''''Julius Caesar''''' is a tragedy<ref>It can be classified as a history, but is normally classified as a tragedy.</ref> by [[William Shakespeare]] based on the death of Roman emperor [[Julius Caesar]]. The play is followed by [[Antony and Cleopatra]]. The play is famous for Antony's ''[[Friends, Romans, Countrymen]]'' speech, and for many pithy quotes from it about politics, betrayal, and human nature.
At 19,703 words, ''Julius Caesar'' is shorter than average for Shakespeare's plays, and easier to follow. It recounts historical facts with a [[conservative]] perspective, and perhaps for that reason is usually not ranked by [[liberal]] scholars as one of Shakespeare's very best works. There have been at least ten star-studded movies and television miniseries about [[Julius Caesar]], many influenced by Shakespeare's play.<ref>https://www.historyhit.com/culture/films-and-television-series-about-julius-caesar/</ref>
==Synopsis==
The play opens with Julius Caesar's triumphant return to [[Ancient Rome|Rome]], having defeated his enemies including his lead rival, Pompey. Shortly after his arrival, a nobleman, called [[Cassius]], starts a plot to assassinate Caesar. Several Romans are jealous of his new power and seek to take it for themselves. One of the unsure conspirators, [[Brutus|Marcus Brutus]], does it for a different purpose; to preserve the Roman Republic. The assassination takes place as planned and the conspirators proclaim that Caesar was an ambitious tyrant. However, they make the mistake of letting Julius Caesar's close friend, [[Mark Antony]], to give an oration at the funeral. He rallies the Romans against the conspirators and they flee. Antony and Caesar's nephew, [[Augustus|Octavius]], form an army to take the conspirators. Both of their armies meet at Philippi. The conspirators lose the battle and both Brutus and Cassius commit suicide.
'''Octavius Caesar''' is the nephew of Julius Caesar, who takes the title Caesar after the assassination. He fights at the Battle of Philippi.
'''Mark Antony''' is a friend of Caesar, who stirs [[Rome ]] with his [[Friends, Romans, Countrymen]] speech in anger towards the assassins. He also fights at the Battle of Philippi.
'''Lepidus''' is a weak triumvir after Julius Caesar's death.