About Marcus Brutus
Reign
58 BC–42 BC
Full name
Marcus Junius Brutus
Born
June, 85 BC
Birthplace
Rome,
Italia
Died
23 October, 42 BC (aged 43)
Place of death
Macedonia
Marcus Junius Brutus the Younger was the son of Marcus Junius Brutus the Elder and Servilia Caepionis. His father was killed by Pompey
the Great in dubious circumstances after he had taken part in the
rebellion of Lepidus; his mother was the half-sister of Cato the Younger, and later Julius Caesar's
mistress. Some sources refer to the possibility of Caesar being his real father,
despite Caesar's being only 15 years old when Brutus was born.
Brutus' uncle, Quintus Servilius Caepio, adopted
him in about 59 BC, and Brutus was known officially for a time as Quintus
Servilius Caepio Brutus before he reverted to using his birth-name. Following
Caesar's assassination in 44 BC, Brutus revived his adoptive name in order
to illustrate his links to another famous tyrannicide, Gaius
Servilius Ahala, from whom he was descended.
Brutus held his uncle in high regard and
his political career started when he became an assistant to Cato, during his
governorship of Cyprus. During
this time, he enriched himself by lending money at high rates of interest. He returned to Rome a rich man, where
he married Claudia Pulchra. From
his first appearance in the Senate, Brutus aligned with the Optimates (the conservative faction) against the
First Triumvirate of Marcus
Licinius Crassus, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus and Gaius
Julius Caesar.
Around this time, many senators began to fear Caesar's growing power
following his appointment as dictator for life.
Brutus was persuaded into joining the conspiracy against Caesar by the other
senators.
Eventually, Brutus decided to move against Caesar after Caesar's king-like
behavior prompted him to take action. His
wife was the only woman privy to the plot.
The conspirators planned to carry out their plot on the Ides
of March (March 15) that same year. On that day, Caesar was
delayed going to the Senate because his wife, Calpurnia Pisonis, tried to convince him not to
go. The
conspirators feared the plot had been found out.
Brutus persisted, however, waiting for Caesar at the Senate, and allegedly still
chose to remain even when a messenger brought him news that would otherwise have
caused him to leave.
When Caesar finally did come to the Senate, they attacked him. Publius Servilius Casca Longus was allegedly the
first to attack Caesar with a blow to the shoulder, which Caesar blocked.
However, upon seeing Brutus was with the conspirators, he covered his face with
his toga
and resigned himself to his fate. The
conspirators attacked in such numbers that they even wounded one another. Brutus
is said to have been wounded in the hand and in the legs.
After the assassination, the Senate passed an amnesty on the assassins. This
amnesty was proposed by Caesar's friend and co-consul Marcus
Antonius. Nonetheless, uproar among the population caused Brutus
and the conspirators to leave Rome. Brutus settled in Crete from 44 to 42 BC.
In 43 BC, after Octavian received his consulship from the Roman Senate, one of his first actions was to
have the people that had assassinated Julius Caesar declared murderers and enemies of the state. Marcus Tullius Cicero, angry at Octavian, wrote a
letter to Brutus explaining that the forces of Octavian and Marcus Antonius were
divided. Antonius had laid siege to the province of Gaul, where he wanted a governorship. In response
to this siege, Octavian rallied his troops and fought a series of battles in
which Antonius was defeated
58 BC–42 BC
Full name
Marcus Junius Brutus
Born
June, 85 BC
Birthplace
Rome,
Italia
Died
23 October, 42 BC (aged 43)
Place of death
Macedonia
Marcus Junius Brutus the Younger was the son of Marcus Junius Brutus the Elder and Servilia Caepionis. His father was killed by Pompey
the Great in dubious circumstances after he had taken part in the
rebellion of Lepidus; his mother was the half-sister of Cato the Younger, and later Julius Caesar's
mistress. Some sources refer to the possibility of Caesar being his real father,
despite Caesar's being only 15 years old when Brutus was born.
Brutus' uncle, Quintus Servilius Caepio, adopted
him in about 59 BC, and Brutus was known officially for a time as Quintus
Servilius Caepio Brutus before he reverted to using his birth-name. Following
Caesar's assassination in 44 BC, Brutus revived his adoptive name in order
to illustrate his links to another famous tyrannicide, Gaius
Servilius Ahala, from whom he was descended.
Brutus held his uncle in high regard and
his political career started when he became an assistant to Cato, during his
governorship of Cyprus. During
this time, he enriched himself by lending money at high rates of interest. He returned to Rome a rich man, where
he married Claudia Pulchra. From
his first appearance in the Senate, Brutus aligned with the Optimates (the conservative faction) against the
First Triumvirate of Marcus
Licinius Crassus, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus and Gaius
Julius Caesar.
Around this time, many senators began to fear Caesar's growing power
following his appointment as dictator for life.
Brutus was persuaded into joining the conspiracy against Caesar by the other
senators.
Eventually, Brutus decided to move against Caesar after Caesar's king-like
behavior prompted him to take action. His
wife was the only woman privy to the plot.
The conspirators planned to carry out their plot on the Ides
of March (March 15) that same year. On that day, Caesar was
delayed going to the Senate because his wife, Calpurnia Pisonis, tried to convince him not to
go. The
conspirators feared the plot had been found out.
Brutus persisted, however, waiting for Caesar at the Senate, and allegedly still
chose to remain even when a messenger brought him news that would otherwise have
caused him to leave.
When Caesar finally did come to the Senate, they attacked him. Publius Servilius Casca Longus was allegedly the
first to attack Caesar with a blow to the shoulder, which Caesar blocked.
However, upon seeing Brutus was with the conspirators, he covered his face with
his toga
and resigned himself to his fate. The
conspirators attacked in such numbers that they even wounded one another. Brutus
is said to have been wounded in the hand and in the legs.
After the assassination, the Senate passed an amnesty on the assassins. This
amnesty was proposed by Caesar's friend and co-consul Marcus
Antonius. Nonetheless, uproar among the population caused Brutus
and the conspirators to leave Rome. Brutus settled in Crete from 44 to 42 BC.
In 43 BC, after Octavian received his consulship from the Roman Senate, one of his first actions was to
have the people that had assassinated Julius Caesar declared murderers and enemies of the state. Marcus Tullius Cicero, angry at Octavian, wrote a
letter to Brutus explaining that the forces of Octavian and Marcus Antonius were
divided. Antonius had laid siege to the province of Gaul, where he wanted a governorship. In response
to this siege, Octavian rallied his troops and fought a series of battles in
which Antonius was defeated