A man named Gaius Cassius, who was a bitter enemy of Julius Caesar, began to have a strong influence on Brutus in 44 BC. He and Cassius then became friends and colleagues. After that, Brutus became the leader of the conspirators against Caesar, a group of several dozen senators, because he didn't like Caesar's dictitorial rule and wanted the republic to be restored. He made the deed that he was planning seem respectable to the senators, and many other people. On the Ides of March (March 15) in 44 BC the assassins surrounded a surprised Caesar in the Senate chambers (he was surprised because he had no idea why Brutus would do this to him). Cassius and Brutus each stabbed him once, then many other senators did the same, but Brutus' stab was the fatal one. Julius Caesar's last words were "Et tu Brute;" "You too Brutus." This meant that Caesar had just realized that Brutus, too, had turned on him and joined the conspirators. He died shocked and confused as to why Brutus had turned on him, when he thought that they were friends.
By Ginny W. '02 Germantown Academy