Podcast Summary: The Ancients – What if the Ides of March Failed?
Date: March 19, 2026
Host: Tristan Hughes
Guest: Dr. Hannah Cornwell, Associate Professor in Ancient History, University of Birmingham

Overview

This special episode of The Ancients explores a pivotal "what if" in ancient history: What if Julius Caesar had not been assassinated on the Ides of March (March 15th, 44 BC)? Host Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Hannah Cornwell to analyze Caesar’s world, the events leading up to the assassination, his plans for the future, and the possible impact of his continued rule on Rome and world history.

The conversation blends accessible explanation, scholarly insight, and speculation, inviting listeners to consider alternate paths for Rome and its most famous dictator.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

The Assassination: What Actually Happened?

[01:32-09:08]

• Tristan sets the scene for the Ides of March, describing the gathering of senators and Caesar’s ominous omens.
• Hannah explains the events: Caesar ignores several warnings (his wife’s plea, soothsayer’s caution) and enters the Senate, where he’s attacked by about 60 conspirators amidst nearly 900 senators.
• Notable ancient sources (Suetonius, Cicero) told the tale, fueling centuries of intrigue.
• Quote:
  “As Caesar lowers himself regally on his throne, the signal is given. The conspirators leap forward... 23 stab wounds later, Caesar collapses...” – Tristan [04:00]

On the assassins’ mindset:

• Cicero called the event a "banquet," rhetorically wishing he’d been invited.
• Brutus minted coins celebrating the “liberation” of Rome: “He commemorates the date...two daggers either side of a freedman’s cap.” – Hannah [05:28]

Caesar’s Power and Position Before Death

[11:21-18:45]

• Caesar was dictator perpetuo (“without interruption”), technically not “for life”, but with no term limit—deeply troubling to Republican sensibilities.
• He was consul, Pontifex Maximus, permitted triumphal dress at will, and named in official state cults. His image began appearing on Roman coins.

Quote:
“His status not being exaggerated, but being demonstrated visibly...he is exceptional beyond anything the Romans have had thus far.” – Hannah [14:08]

• The Lupercalia episode (Feb 44 BC): Caesar thrice refuses the diadem of kingship offered by Mark Antony, doing so with theatrical ambiguity. Some Romans urge him to take it; others object.
• The Senate, bloated with Caesar’s supporters, verged on sycophancy—even as cracks and critical graffiti appeared among the populace.
• Among soldiers and many commoners, Caesar’s popularity was high, given grants of land, money, and post-retirement colonies.

What If the Assassination Never Happened?

[21:22-35:43]

• Caesar’s next goal: a massive campaign against Parthia, set to depart March 18th, 44 BC. Legions were mustered in Macedonia.
• He’d arranged Rome’s administration, appointing Brutus and Cassius to positions.
• The urgency for the murder: conspirators had to strike before he left Rome for years.
• Military Ambitions:
  • Planned approach possibly through Dacia (modern Romania).
  • Parthia was a nemesis Rome had never subdued; Caesar wanted to outdo Pompey, match Alexander the Great, and fulfill Roman aspirations for an eastern empire, possibly as far as India.

Quote:
“...this was going to be the eastward campaign that would basically subdue everything, land and sea, under the power of a single individual. That was Caesar.” – Hannah [30:54]

• The panel points out that further eastward conquests could destabilize Rome or spark uprisings in his absence, referencing earlier Sulla-Marius precedent.

Caesar’s Health & Motivation

[39:27-42:19]

• Caesar was in declining health, with reported fainting spells and two epileptic fits in public.
• He reportedly preferred a quick, glorious end to a slow decline, reading Xenophon and dismissing the prospect of lingering illness.
• The desire for military glory and to "go out on your own terms" may have added urgency to his ambitions.

Quote:
“Perhaps it is a case of going out in a blaze of glory.” – Hannah [41:43]

Caesar’s Plans for Rome & His Dynastic Legacy

[42:19-51:15]

• Administrative reforms included grain laws, infrastructural improvements, and expanded magistracies.
• His relationship with Cleopatra and the prospect of a son, Caesarion, raised questions about potential dynastic or Hellenistic-style monarchy.
• Cleopatra and Caesarion were both in Rome when Caesar died—he never officially acknowledged Caesarion, but allowed the boy his name.
• Augustus (Octavian) later used the legal technicalities of Caesar’s will and these rumors for political ends.

Would Caesar Have Become King or Emperor?

[51:15-54:54]

• Despite refusing the title “rex” (king), Caesar performed power tests, such as at the Lupercalia, to gauge support for outright monarchy.
• Sulla, who had held the perpetual dictatorship after civil war, famously retired—Caesar allegedly said Sulla lacked political sense for doing so.
• The consensus: Caesar’s increasing powers and honors made it harder and harder for him to step back. The temptation or pressure to "make it official" and rule openly as king might have been too strong, but republican opposition likely remained potent.
• Over time, the transition from Republic to Principate (emperor) only hardened as rival Republican voices faded.

Octavian’s (Augustus) Fate In This Alternate Future

[57:32-60:47]

• Octavian (future Augustus) owed his rise to Caesar’s death and his status as heir.
• Had Caesar lived longer, Octavian may have taken a standard elite political/military path, or perhaps, if the will stood, still inherited estates and clients, but not necessarily political leadership.
• The possible emergence of a succession crisis, involving Caesarion and Octavian, is noted.

Quote:
“Too many Caesars is not a good thing. You don’t want too many people with the name Caesar.” – Dr. Cornwell quoting an ancient philosopher [60:12]

Alternate Scenario: The Assassination Attempt Fails

[61:44-64:42]

• What if the conspiracy was discovered or failed?
  • Caesar had a track record of clemency—even toward Brutus and Cicero.
  • Conspirators might have been exiled, but mass exile could’ve created external problems if they joined Rome’s foreign enemies.
  • Alternatively, Caesar could have prosecuted them for violent crimes against a magistrate—potential for public outrage or political turbulence.

Notable Quotes and Moments

• On the symbolism and political anxiety of Caesar’s rise:
  "To have your portrait on the coin…is sending quite strong messages." – Hannah [15:44]
• On Caesar's aspirations:
  “If you can conquer [Parthia], not only are you the greatest military commander of all time, but you have bound together the world under your rule...” – Hannah [32:23]
• On the persistence of Republican resistance:
  “There is still enough of a republic or figures who want to see the Republic functioning... to resist.” – Hannah [54:54]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:32 — Introduction of the "what if" scenario; recap of the real Ides of March
• 05:05 — Dr. Hannah Cornwell joins; ancient views of the assassination
• 11:21 — Caesar’s official role and powers at the time of his death
• 15:44 — Lupercalia festival and its symbolic significance
• 18:45 — Popularity among elites, people, soldiers; senatorial dynamics
• 21:22 — Caesar’s planned Parthian campaign
• 26:49 — Logistics and challenges of the campaign east
• 29:45 — Client kings and eastern alliances
• 33:03 — Would Caesar have mirrored Alexander the Great? His ambitions for India
• 34:07 — The risk of instability at Rome during Caesar’s foreign campaigns
• 39:27 — Caesar’s personal health and possible motivations
• 42:19 — Caesar’s legislative reforms and visions for future Rome
• 44:11 — Cleopatra, Caesarion, and the potential for a dynastic eastern connection
• 51:15 — Would Caesar have claimed the title of “king”?
• 57:32 — Octavian’s fate if Caesar survived
• 61:44 — What if the assassination attempt failed?
• 65:21 — Final thoughts on alternate history’s value for understanding the past

Tone and Style

Tristan’s approach is enthusiastic, accessible, and a bit playful, inviting both curiosity and debate (“That Lupercalia festival sounds absolutely bizarre…” [17:50]). Dr. Cornwell provides rich scholarly detail, tempering speculation with evidence and drawing distinctions between ancient and modern concepts. Together, they use “what if” scenarios to illuminate real historical dynamics and encourage critical thinking.

Concluding Thoughts

The episode demonstrates how alternate history can sharpen our understanding of ancient events, allowing us to appreciate both the contingency of history and the robustness of underlying political, social, and personal dynamics. The fate of Rome—and the world—hung on the knife edge of a single day, and asking “what if?” helps us glimpse the possibilities and pitfalls of power in the ancient world.

“The what if narratives you can construct have infinite possibilities, which I think are a really fun way of exploring the past because you have to think about it within its context, which requires thinking about what actually happened.” – Dr. Hannah Cornwell [65:21]

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