The Reigns of Roman Emperors 

the western sky and rose in the eastern sky. This comet does not fit the description that the comet following the 

death of Julius Caesar was seen in the northern sky. 

    The comet of 47 

B.C.

 was seen near the group of stars called the Pleiades.

818

 The Pleiades was above the 

horizon for some of the daylight hours, and above the horizon for some of the nighttime hours. However, 

during that time period, the Pleiades set about 4 hours before sunset, and did not rise above the horizon again 

until several hours after sunset. The interpretation that the comet was seen rising at the eleventh hour of the 

day does not fit the location of this comet. The comet of 47 

B.C.

 could not be seen at all in the hours 

immediately before and after sunset, because it was below the horizon at that time of day when viewed from 

Rome. Therefore, the comet of 47 

B.C.

 could not have been the comet associated with the death of Julius 

Caesar. 

    In 49 

B.C.

, Chinese astronomers recorded seeing a comet during the lunar month of April 14 to May 12 in 

the constellation Cassiopeia.

819

 This constellation, as seen from Rome during that time period, was in the 

northern part of the sky. The comet of 49 

B.C.

 would also have been seen in the northern part of the sky, 

matching the words of Augustus closely. Also, the time of year is the correct for the comet following the death 

of Julius Caesar, who died in mid March. 

    The comet associated with the death of Julius Caesar was seen either an hour before, or a little after, sunset. 

This time frame for the visibility of the comet fits the 49 

B.C.

 comet. During this time period (April 14 to May 

12), the constellation Cassiopeia was above the horizon and clearly visible from Rome before, during, and 

after sunset.

820

 At about the time of sunset, Cassiopeia was almost exactly due north, as viewed from Rome. 

Thus the comet of 49 

B.C.

 would have been clearly visible in the north, as the sky first began to dim, a little 

after sunset. 

    Augustus indicates that the comet occurring after the death of Julius Caesar was rising at about the eleventh 

hour of the day. But the constellation Cassiopeia was setting in the northern sky at about sunset. It never fully 

set below the horizon, and began to rise again soon after dark. However, as Cassiopeia began to set in the 

north, it was also turning. The stars which make up the edge of Cassiopeia closest to north northwest were 

setting, but the stars on the northern edge of Cassiopeia were, at the same time, rising. (Of course, this 

apparent turning motion is due to the spin of the earth and the location of the constellation in the northern 

sky.) Thus a comet seen in the northern part of Cassiopeia, at this time of day, would appear to be rising about 

the time of sunset, even though the constellation as a whole was setting. Also, not long after sunset, the entire 

constellation was rising, having never fully set below the horizon.

821

    Based on the above information, the comet of 49 

B.C.

 is the only fit for the information given by Pliny and 

Augustus for the comet following the death of Julius Caesar. This comet was located in the northern part of 

the sky, was visible about the eleventh hour of the day, and could well have been rising at that time of day. 

The comets of 47 and 44 

B.C.

 do not fit these criteria at all. And there were no other comets described in the 

records of Chinese astronomers during this general time period, other than those of 49, 47, and 44 

B.C.

822

    The above information on both comets and solar eclipses points to the same conclusion. The year of the 

death Julius Caesar could not have been 44 

B.C.

 In fact, the only year that fits the above astronomical evidence 

is 49 

B.C.

 Therefore, Julius Caesar died in mid March of 49 

B.C.

, not 44 

B.C.

3.  The length of the reign of Caesar Augustus 

    Numerous points below refer to events in the reign of Augustus, which began and ended 4 years earlier than 

generally believed. Notice, though, that the argument above has Julius Caesar's death 5 years earlier than the 

usual date. The extra year is accounted for by the following explanation. 

    Flavius Josephus gives the length of Augustus' reign as  fifty seven years, besides six months and two 

days. 

823

 The reign of Augustus was 57 years, six months, and two days in length, according to Josephus. Both 

Dio Cassius and Suetonius Tranquillus tell us that Augustus died on August 19, just 35 days short of his 76th 

birthday (on Sept. 23).

824

 So, if his reign ended on August 19, it must have begun on February 17, six months 

and 2 days earlier (regardless of the number of years). 

    Julius Caesar died on March 15, which is called  the Ides of March.  But Josephus clearly counts the reign 

of Augustus as beginning in February, and this is not a rough estimate, since he even gives the length of 

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