Beware...

the Ides of March.

On March 15, 44 B.C. Gaius Julius Caesar was stabbed to death in Rome while on his way to attend a session of the Senate. His assassination marked the end of a short, but substantial reign over the burgeoning empire of Rome.

Of his many political reforms one of the most poignant was his allowance of conquered peoples a place in Roman government. Gaius Cassius Longinus and Marcus Junius Brutus, both former enemies and members of the Senate, have been cited as prime conspirators in Caesar's murder.

In a broader sense, Caesar's radical political and social reforms, his manipulation of the government in order to see his policies more easily realized and his efforts to elevate his position and make his own power unassailable were more likely greater contributing factors to his downfall. Many members of the Senate had felt that Caesar's reach and influence had become far too great for one man alone.

The aftermath of Caesar's death was marked by an intense internal power struggle and riots incited by the Roman lower and middle-classes with whom the fallen leader had become immensely popular. In the end, Ceasar's great-grandnephew emerged victorious and assumed position as Rome's first true emperor.

The scourge of Salem...

On March 1, 1692 three women, Sarah Good, Sarah Osbourne and Tituba are interrogated by magistrates in Salem, Massachusetts on suspicion of witchcraft. Their accusers were four young girls between the ages of 9 and 12.

Over the course of roughly a year a rash of accusations would lead to the arrest of more than 150 people on charges of witchcraft and 20 people would be executed. Contrary to popular belief none were burned. Nineteen of those implicated were hanged and one man, Giles Corey, was crushed to death under the weight of stones placed on his chest.

Strangely, the one sure way to survive a trial was to admit to being a witch. It was thought that once a person had made an admission of guilt their salvation was in God's hands. However, if one were to protest the injustices inflicted upon them by their community and stand steadfast against the charges, death was almost assured.

Spite, jealousy, greed and want of attention have all been offered up as reasons for the outbreak of accusations in Salem and its surrounding areas. Some have even suggested the ingestion of tainted bread to explain the attacks claimed by some of the supposed victims of witchcraft.