Brutus

• Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus (c.85-42 BCE), known as Brutus, was a Roman General and Senator closely associated with Julius Caesar.
• Brutus fought with Julius Caesar during the Gallic Wars (58-51 BCE) but in the civil wars that followed he fought against him.

Biography

• Gallic Wars (58-51 BCE)
  • During the Gallic Wars, Brutus was the Commander of the Fleet against the Veneti at the Battle of Morbihan Gulf in 56 BCE. Despite many odds, Brutus won the battle.
• Great Roman Civil War (49-45 BCE)
  • In the Civil War, Brutus opposed Julius Caesar and joined Pompey.
  • But after Brutus was captured at the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BCE, Caesar forgave Brutus, and made him Governor of Gaul and in 45 BCE, Urban Praetor.
• Assassination of Julius Caesar (44 BCE)
  • Brutus became the Leader of a group of Senators who called themselves the ‘Liberators’ and who were plotting to eliminate Caesar because he had declared himself ‘Dictator Perpetuo’.
  • They believed he was trying to overthrow the Roman Republic, bypass the Roman Senate and make himself King.
  • Caesar was stabbed 23 times by the 60 or more Senators led by Brutus.
• Liberator’s Civil War (44-42 BCE)
  • Brutus and Longinus rallied 19 Legions and met the Second Triumvirate of Octavian and Mark Anthony at the Battle of Philippi in 42 BCE.
  • Despite initial success, Brutus lost and committed suicide.