Which ending describes the political outcome after the assassination?

• A. A peaceful restoration of the Republic
• B. A lasting civil peace under Brutus
• C. Caesar's supporters triumph without opposition
• D. The conspirators are defeated, Brutus and Cassius die, Antony and Octavius take control

Answer: (D)

When a leader is assassinated, the immediate question isn’t whether the Republic will be restored, but who will seize power afterward. In this storyline, the act of killing Caesar sparks a fierce power struggle rather than a peaceful reset. The conspirators imagine they are saving the Republic, but their plan backfires as Antony and Octavius quickly rally forces and defeat them. Brutus and Cassius both die, ending the conspirators’ bid for control. With them gone, Antony and Octavius step forward to take charge, marking a shift from republican ideals to a new power structure that ultimately leads toward imperial rule. So the ending that fits best is the one where the conspirators are defeated, Brutus and Cassius die, and Antony and Octavius take control.