Marcus Junius Brutus |
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Marcus Junius Brutus |
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| Brutus, Marcus Junius (85?-42 BC), Roman political leader, son-in-law of the Roman philosopher Marcus Porcius Cato the Younger, born in Rome, and educated in law. During the civil war between Pompey the Great and Julius Caesar, Brutus supported Pompey. After Caesar's victory at Pharsalus in 48 BC, Brutus was pardoned and taken into Caesar's favor. He became governor of Cisalpine Gaul in 46 BC and praetor of Rome two years later. During the spring of 44 BC, however, he joined the Roman general Gaius Cassius Longinus in a conspiracy against Caesar. Together they were the principal assassins of Caesar. Brutus then fled to Macedonia, raised an army among the Greeks, and joined Cassius in Asia Minor to fight for the Roman Republic. At the First Battle of Philippi (42), he was successful, but Cassius was defeated. Twenty days later his army was defeated by troops led by Mark Antony and Caesar's heir, Octavian, who later became emperor. Brutus committed suicide. | |
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