Who wanted the crown of Rome, betrayed by Brutus, and killed by the conspirators?

• A. Caesar
• B. Brutus
• C. Octavius
• D. Antony

Answer: (A)

Caesar’s desire to crown himself king drives the moment: his bid for kingship alarms the senators who fear a loss of the Republic, so Brutus and the others decide to act. Brutus betrays Caesar not to seize power himself, but because he believes removing Caesar is necessary to preserve liberty. The conspirators kill Caesar in the Senate, carrying out the murder to stop what they see as the establishment of a monarchy. So the character who wanted the crown, was betrayed by Brutus, and was killed by the conspirators is Julius Caesar. Brutus is the traitor in the sense of betrayal, but he does not seek the crown; Octavius and Antony are Caesar’s allies and heirs who rise later, not the conspirators who kill him.