Definition of the glossary term Brutus
Brutus was born Marcus Junius Brutus in 85 B.C. He was a Roman Senator during the late Republic. Though close to Julius Caesar, who thought very highly of him, Brutus' strong and nationalisitc political convictions led him to conspire against his friend (who had been named dictator for life) with a group of men known as the Liberatores (Liberators). On March 15, 44 B.C. (the Ideas of March), they stabbed Caesar to death in the Senate.
Despite thinking that he had helped to free Rome, Caesar was hugely popular, and the people were angry. Fearing treason charges, Brutus fled to Athens and worked on building an army. Octavian and Mark Antony, who had supported Caesar to the end, marched toward him, and during the Second Battle of Philippi, defeated Brutus' army. On October 24, 42 B.C., Brutus committed suicide.
