BRUTUS (originally an adjective meaning "heavy," "stupid," kindred with Gr. cf. Eng. "brute," "brutal") , the surname of several distinguished Romans belonging to the Junian gens.
(I) Lucius JUNIUS BRUTUS, one of the first two consuls, B.C. According to the legends his father and elder brother had been put to death by the reigning family. Brutus took a leading part in the expulsion of the Tarquinii, and was elected consul, or rather praetor, the original title (Livy i. 59), with Collatinus. When the two sons of Brutus joined in a conspiracy for the restoration of the Tarquins, he himself sentenced them to death (Livy ii. 3) . Brutus fell in single combat with Tarquin's son, during a battle with the Etruscans, who were trying to restore the dynasty (Livy ii. 6; Dion. Halic. v. 14).
(4) His son, of the same name, made a great reputation at the Bar, and from the vehemence of his speeches became known as "the Accuser" (Cicero, De Officiis, ii. 15) .
(5) DECIMUS JUNIUS BRUTUS (Albinus), born about 84 B.C., first served under Caesar in Gaul, and afterwards commanded his fleet. Caesar made him his master of the horse and governor of Gaul, and, in case of Octavian's death, nominated him as one of his heirs. Nevertheless he joined in the conspiracy against his patron, and was one of his assassins. He then went to his province of Cisalpine Gaul, which he held for the Republicans against Antony until, deserted by his soldiers and betrayed by a native chief, he was put to death by Antony's orders (43), while attempting to escape to Brutus and Cassius in Macedonia. He figures in Cicero's correspondence. (See Appian, B.C. iii. 97; Dio. Cassius, xlvi. 53; Caesar, B.G. iii. 11, B.C. i. 45.) (6) MARCUS JUNIUS BRUTUS (85, according to some, 79 or B.C.), supported the cause of Pompey against Caesar, but was pardoned by the latter after the victory of Pharsalus, and subsequently appointed governor of Cisalpine Gaul (46), a post which he apparently filled with credit. In 44 he was city praetor, and Caesar promised him the governorship of Macedonia at the expiration of his term of office. But at the prompting of Cassius he became leader of the conspiracy against the dictator, and was himself one of the assassins. But the republicans had no pro gramme, and in 44 he fled to the East with Cassius, seized Macedonia and raised forces against Antony. But at Philippi (42) they were defeated by Antony and Octavian, and Brutus committed suicide.
Brutus was generally friendly with Cicero, who dedicated several works to him, but there were disagreements between them, and Cicero frequently speaks of his lack of enthusiasm. Probably the Romans admired him for his respectability, the old-fashioned gravitas. He was slow in decision, amazingly obstinate and in his financial dealings with the provincials, both extortionate and cruel (Cic. ad Att. vi. 1. 7) . Shakespeare's portrait of him is far too flattering. He wrote philosophical treatises and poetry, but noth ing has survived. We possess part of his correspondence with Cicero (two books out of an original nine), which are now re garded as genuine with two possible exceptions. The Greek letters of Brutus are probably the composition of some rhetorician.
See J. L. Strachan-Davidson, Cicero (1894) ; G. Boissier, Cicero and his Friends (Eng. trans. 1897) ; E. T. Bynum, Das Leben des M. J. Brutus (1898) ; Tyrrell and Purser's edition of Cicero's Letters (refs. in index vol. s.v. "Iunius Brutus," especially introductions to vols. iii. and v.) ; other authorities under CAESAR ; CICERO.