Today, March 15, is the Ides of March, a date that became notorious due to the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC – an act of treachery by 60 conspirators, led by Caesar’s friend Brutus.

That event was followed by four years of turmoil, when Caesar’s adopted son Octavian (later known as Augustus) achieved a victory in the siege of Perugia and executed 300 senators and other officials who had fought against him.

Caesar’s assassination has been included in modern language: “Et tu Brute?” It represents betrayal at its very worst. I would say that there is hardly a person who, at some point in time, has not been betrayed by one of his friends.