Gaius Cassius Longinus is a historical figure who features as a character in the HBO

Home Box Office

HBO, short for Home Box Office, is an American premium cable television network, owned by Time Warner. , HBO's programming reaches 28.2 million subscribers in the United States, making it the second largest premium network in America . In addition to its U.S...

/BBC2 original television series Rome

Rome (TV series)

Rome is a British-American–Italian historical drama television series created by Bruno Heller, John Milius and William J. MacDonald. The show's two seasons premiered in 2005 and 2007, and were later released on DVD. Rome is set in the 1st century BC, during Ancient Rome's transition from Republic...

, played by Guy Henry. Cassius is depicted as a stubborn young man who is one of the first people who wants Caesar dead. He is one of the figures who devised the plot for Caesar's death, and also acted as one of the assassins. The real Cassius was also one of the main players in the death of Caesar.

Personality

Cassius is a senator of Rome. Rebellion is in his blood, inherited from his father Marcus Cato, who was one of the Governor Generals of Gnaeus Pompey. Cassius believes that membership in the Roman Senate should be restricted to wealthy Romans. He is completely against foreigners or plebs in the senate. Cassius is a stubborn man and will argue to get his way. Although not violent, he is willing to risk his life to have Caesar killed. In this and other matters, he is significantly more practical and ruthless than his somewhat idealistic ally Brutus. He is skilled with words and knows how to convince others to do his bidding.

Character history

Cassius only appears in the last three episodes of season 1. He is briefly introduced in 1-10 "Triumph." In 1-11 "The Spoils" he tells Brutus that the plebs want him to rescue them from Caesar. When Brutus disagrees, Cassius calls him a coward and tells him that he has the power to end Caesar's tyranny.

In 1-12 "Kalends of February" Cassius is plotting the downfall of Caesar, along with Brutus, Servilia, Casca and Quintus Pompey. After Casca first stabs Caesar, Cassius joins in with the others in stabbing the dying leader. After Brutus delivers the death blow, Cassius declares "Thus ever for tyrants!" and thrusts Brutus's hand into the air.

Comparison with the historical Gaius Cassius

Gaius Cassius Longinus

Gaius Cassius Longinus

Gaius Cassius Longinus was a Roman senator, a leading instigator of the plot to kill Julius Caesar, and the brother in-law of Marcus Junius Brutus.-Early life:...

 was the ally and brother-in-law of Marcus Junius Brutus

Marcus Junius Brutus

Marcus Junius Brutus , often referred to as Brutus, was a politician of the late Roman Republic. After being adopted by his uncle he used the name Quintus Servilius Caepio Brutus, but eventually returned to using his original name...

, as he was married to Brutus' half-sister Junia Tertia

Junia Tertia

Junia Tertia, or Tertulla, was the third daughter of Servilia Caepionis and her second husband Decimus Junius Silanus, half-sister of Marcus Junius Brutus, and wife of Gaius Cassius Longinus....

 with whom he had a child. The family connection is never established in the series and Junia Tertia is omitted completely. While the series shows him dying in battle, in reality Cassius committed suicide, after mistaking a victory of Brutus as a victory for Octavian

Augustus

Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...

. Although it was actually Octavian who had been forced to retreat, Cassius killed himself believing Brutus to have already done so. Brutus took his own life a few weeks later.