"Sic Semper Tyrannis": What John Wilkes Booth Yelled After Shooting Lincoln In Manhunt Explained (2024)

John Wilkes Booth shouts the phrase “Sic Semper Tyrannis” after shooting President Lincoln in Apple TV+’s Manhunt, raising questions about the phrase’s meaning and why he uses it. Manhunt is the most recent dramatization of the infamous assassination of President Lincoln. The series shows Lincoln’s killer in an entirely new way, depicting what happened to John Wilkes Booth after Lincoln’s assassination. Manhunt also focuses on how the detectives of that time tracked Booth down without modern technology and forensics. It took many artistic liberties by increasing the significance of certain Manhunt characters and changing details about Booth’s escape from Washington.

However, the one event that stays true to the facts is the assassination of Lincoln. The murder occurs suddenly, after which Booth jumps from the balcony onto the stage, shouting “Sic Semper Tyrannis.” During his fall, he breaks his leg, which either occurred during the fall or on his horse ride in real life (this is subject to debate). He then escapes out the side door, where his horse waits. In order for this entire sequence of events in Manhunt to make sense, it’s crucial that the meaning and presumed origin of the phrase that John Wilkes Booth shouts.

John Wilkes Booth Famously Shouted “Sic Semper Tyrannis” After Shooting President Lincoln

As shown in Manhunt, John Wilkes Booth shouted the Latin phrase “Sic Semper Tyrannis” after shooting President Lincoln and jumping onto the stage. This phrase has been the state motto of Virginia since 1776 and translates to “ Thus Always To Tyrants. ” His use of this phrase is significant because Booth was a staunch supporter of the Confederacy, and the capital of the Confederacy was Richmond, Virginia. By saying the motto of the state where the Confederacy was centered, it reinforced his ideals and belief that they would prevail. There’s also another possible reason for John Wilkes Booth using the phrase.

It is commonly believed that Brutus originated the phrase “Sic Semper Tyrannis” when he killed Julius Caesar. Even though there isn’t much evidence to support this origin story, as a Shakespearean actor, Booth would’ve likely believed that the phrase was connected to the assassination of Caesar. By using the phrase while killing Lincoln, he would – in his mind – be the hero who saved the United States from tyranny in the same way Brutus did for Rome. That being said, both reasons for Booth using the phrase are speculation, since he never lived long enough to confirm his mindset.

Manhunt Includes The Other Phrase Witnesses Reported Booth Shouting

While “Sic Semper Tyrannis” is the phrase most commonly depicted in shows about President Abe Lincoln’s assassination, this isn’t the only phrase reported by witnesses to the real-life events of Manhunt episode 1. According to Britannica, witnesses reported John Wilkes Booth shouting “Sic Semper Tyrannis,” “The South is avenged,” or both. In addition to the former statement, Manhunt used a variation of the second reported phrase, having Booth shout “Freedom for the South” before jumping off the balcony and the Latin phrase once he lands on the stage. In this way, Manhunt represented the other witnesses to Abraham Lincoln’s assassination.

Source: Britannica

Manhunt

TV-MA

Drama

Thriller

Cast

Tobias Menzies , Anthony Boyle , Lovie Simone , Matt Walsh , Brandon Flynn , Betty Gabriel , Will Harrison , Hamish Linklater , Damian O'Hare , Patton Oswalt , Lili Taylor

Release Date

March 15, 2024

Seasons

4

Streaming Service(s)

Apple TV+

Writers

Monica Beletsky

Directors

John Dahl , Carl Franklin

Showrunner

Monica Beletsky

Creator(s)

Monica Beletsky