Marcus Junius Brutus (tribune 83 BC)
Marcus Junius Brutus (died 77 BC) was a tribune of the Roman Republic in 83 BC[1] and the founder of the colony in Capua.[2] He was an associate of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, who led a revolt against the senate after the death of Sulla. He was captured by Pompey and treacherously executed.[3] He was the father of his homonymous son, who assassinated Julius Caesar in 44.[4]
Power struggle and death[]
In 78 BC, Brutus was stationed as a commander in Cisalpine Gaul.[4] He was allied with Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, who as consul was agitating against Sulla's constitutional settlement and opposed a state funeral for the dictator after his death.[5] He also "took up the cause of those who had lost their civil or political rights under Sulla's reforms".[4] Lepidus turned to violence and raised an army against his consular colleague Quintus Lutatius Catulus when Catulus successfully blocked constitutional reform.[5]
Lepidus' army was defeated outside of Rome. Brutus took his own forces to Mutina, where he defended the stronghold against Pompey, who had been sent by the senate to dislodge him.[6] He withstood Pompey's attacks for some time, but was eventually surrendered – this troops either turned on him or he surrendered of his own accord – after which he was allowed to retire to the town of Regium Lepidi[citation needed], where he was murdered by Pompey's close ally Geminius. According to Plutarch,
For Brutus, whether he himself betrayed his army, or whether his army changed sides and betrayed him, put himself in the hands of Pompey, and receiving an escort of horsemen, retired to a little town upon the Po. Here, after a single day had passed, he was slain by Geminius, who was sent by Pompey to do the deed.[7]
Pompey forwarded to Rome the news of his surrender and execution. The senate blamed Pompey for the perfidious act.[8][9][10] John Leach in his biography of Pompey defends his subject by arguing that Brutus "presumably began to whip up further support for Lepidus (the name of the town suggests that there were hereditary clients of his there)" and so Pompey was "forced" to send Geminius to Regium Lepidi to recapture and execute him.[11][verification needed]
Brutus is quoted by Cicero, who says he was well skilled in public and private law.[12]
Family[]
He was the first husband to Servilia, the elder half-sister of Cato the Younger. His son by Servilia is the Marcus Junius Brutus who was one of the chief assassins of Julius Caesar.
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See also[]
- Junia gens
- Servilia, his wife
- Marcus Junius Brutus, his homonymous son
Notes[]
- ^ Treggiari, Susan (2019). "Adolescence and Marriage to Brutus (c. 88–78)". Servilia and her Family. Oxford University Press. pp. 70–87. doi:10.1093/oso/9780198829348.003.0004. ISBN 978-0-19-186792-7.
- ^ Cic. De lege agraria ii. 33, 34, 36
- ^ Badian, Ernst (2015-12-22). "Iunius Brutus (1), Marcus, Roman tribune, 83 BCE". Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.013.3439. ISBN 978-0-19-938113-5. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Tempest, Kathryn (2017). Brutus: The Noble Conspirator. London: Yale University Press. p. 24. ISBN 978-0-300-18009-1.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Flower, Harriet I. (2009-01-01). Roman Republics. Princeton University Press. p. 140. doi:10.1515/9781400831166. ISBN 978-1-4008-3116-6.
- ^ Plutarch 1917, 16.3.
- ^ Plutarch 1917, 16.4.
- ^ Plutarch 1917, 16.5.
- ^ Appian, B. C. ii. Ill
- ^ Liv. Epit 90.
- ^ Leach, John (1978). Pompey the Great. Croom Helm. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-8476-6035-3.
- ^ Cic. Brut 36.
- Plutarch (1917) [2nd century AD]. Life of Pompey. Parallel Lives. Translated by Perrin, Bernadotte. Loeb Classical Library. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
- 77 BC deaths
- 1st-century BC Romans
- Ancient Roman murder victims
- Family of Marcus Junius Brutus
- Family of Servilia (mother of Brutus)
- Junii Bruti
- Tribunes of the plebs