Attention historians? What did John Wilkes Booth yell before he killed Lincoln?

Question

It was Latin, meaning Death to Tyrants. What did he yell in Latin?

Answer 1

The people who were present in Ford's theater that night were divided upon what Booth said as he hobbled across the stage after leaping from the balcony. Some said that they heard him yell out, "Sic Semper Tyrannous" which means "Thus ever to tyrants" a line from Shakespeare's Julius Ceaser and is also the state motto of Virginia. Others in the audience claimed that he yelled out "The South is avenged".

With Booth's acting background and his flair for the dramatic, melodramatic really, the first choice is considered the favorite of historians and I am inclined to agree. Some historians have wondered if he might not have said both, which although not impossible is unlikely. Booth would have been the sort to have practiced his lines in advance and he would have known that he had time for just one exclamation as he planned to run across the stage and made his escape. He very probably yelled out in pain when he hit the stage and broke his leg so that might account for some thinking he made two exclamations.

A further case for his having uttered the line from Julius Caesar is that in his journal, which was recovered from his body after he was shot to death some days later, Booth compared himself and his act of murdering Lincoln to that of Brutus striking down Caesar.

Hope that helps

Answer 2

He said 'sic semper tyrannous" in Latin, which means "ever to tyrants" in English.

As an aside, what the @#$% is the story with the post above from John V?
Anyone want to take bets on whether he is actually some sort of middle eastern dipstick trying to pass himself off as an American (he's one of those "9/11 was a conspiracy done by the Jews and the US government" retards that we're hip deep in) or whether he really is an actual, honest to goodness, down home product of inbreeding? With his terrible spelling, laughable grammar and pathetic knowledge of history it could go either way.

Answer 3

Something was wrong with his left leg. Wilkes sensed it immediately. The ankle ached like the devil, and it didn’t want to support him. Nevertheless, the actor he was, he found time to deliver his line...a phrase actually, the motto of the State of Virginia..."Sic semper Tyrannis!" Latin for "Thus may it be ever to tyrants!" He turned his back on his last audience and hobbled past an opened-mouthed backstage crew until he reached the alley door where his bay roan waited.

Answer 4

Sic Semper Tyranus

Answer 5

Some witnesses said he shouted "Sic semper tyrannis" (Latin for "Thus always to tyrants" the Virginia state motto) from the stage, while others said he shouted "The South is avenged."

Answer 6

I don't know. but like I told someone just last night. I if I could go back in time. I would cut his throat in his cradle. the Yankee butcher who caused half a million people there deaths. ennocent women and children & men.citys burned,land and possesions taken an occupied South for 20 years. we just defended ourselfs as best we could. Brave Southerners killed two yankees for every one Southerner killed. but there were to many. I hope he burns in hell.I am referring to lincoln not booth,of course, did booth cause half a million deaths? no, lincoln did.

Answer 7

"Sic Semper Tyranus".