Brutus Lucius Junius

, a son of Marcus Junius and Tarquinia, second daughter of Tarquin Priscus. The father, with his eldest son, were murdered by Tarquin the Proud, and Lucius, unable to revenge their death, pretended to be insane. The artifice saved his life; he was called Brutus for his stupidity, which he, however, soon after showed to be feigned. When Lucretia killed herself, B.C. 509, in consequence of the brutality of Tarquin, Brutus snatched the dagger from the wound, and swore, upon the reeking blade, immortal hatred to the royal family. His example animated the Romans. The Tarquins were proscribed by a decree of the senate, and the royal authority vested in the hands of consuls chosen from patrician families. Brutus, in his consular office, made the people swear they never would again submit to kingly authority; but the first who violated their oath were in his own family. His sons conspired with the Tuscan amba ador to restore the Tarquins; and when discovered, they were tried and condemned before their father, who himself attended at their execution. Some time after, in a combat that was fought between the Romans and Tarquins, Brutus engaged with Aruns, and so fierce was the attack that they pierced one another at the same time. The dead body was brought to Rome, and received as in triumph; a funeral oration was spoken over it, and the Roman matrons showed their grief by mourning a year for the father of the republic. Florus , bk. 1 , ch. 2 .— Livy , bk. 1 , ch. 56 ; bk. 2 , ch. 1 , . — Dionysius of Halicarna us , bks. 4 & 5.— Cornel i us Nepos , Atticus , ch. 8 .— Eutropius on Tarquin .— Virgil , Æneid , bk. 6 , li. 818 .— Plutarch , Brutus & Cæsar .――Marcus Junius, father of Cæsar’s murderer, wrote three books on civil law. He followed the party of Marius, and was conquered by Pompey. After the death of Sylla, he was besieged in Mutina by Pompey, to whom he surrendered, and by whose orders he was put to death. He had married Servilia, Cato’s sister, by whom he had a son and two daughters. Cicero , On Oratory , ch. 55 .— Plutarch , Brutus .――His son of the same name by Servilia, was lineally descended from Junius Brutus, who expelled the Tarquins from Rome. He seemed to inherit the republican principles of his great progenitor, and in the civil wars joined himself to the side of Pompey, though he was his father’s murderer, only because he looked upon him as more just and patriotic in his claims. At the battle of Pharsalia, Cæsar not only spared the life of Brutus, but he made him one of his most faithful friends. He, however, forgot the favour because Cæsar aspired to tyranny. He conspired with many of the most illustrious citizens of Rome against the tyrant, and stabbed him in Pompey’s Basilica. The tumult which this murder occasioned was great; the conspirators fled to the capitol, and by proclaiming freedom and liberty to the populace, they re-established tranquillity in the city. Antony, whom Brutus, contrary to the opinion of his a ociates, refused to seize, gained ground in behalf of his friend Cæsar, and the murderers were soon obliged to leave Rome. Brutus retired into Greece, where he gained himself many friends by his arms, as well as by persuasion, and he was soon after pursued thither by Antony, whom young Octavius accompanied. A battle was fought at Philippi. Brutus, who commanded the right wing of the republican army, defeated the enemy; but Ca ius, who had the care of the left, was overpowered, and as he knew not the situation of his friend, and grew desperate, he ordered one of his freedmen to run him through. Brutus deeply deplored his fall, and in the fulne of his grief called him the last of the Romans. In another battle, the wing which Brutus commanded obtained a victory; but the other was defeated, and he found himself surrounded by the soldiers of Antony. He, however, made his escape, and soon after fell upon his sword, B.C. 42. Antony honoured him with a magnificent funeral. Brutus is not le celebrated for his literary talents, than his valour in the field. When he was in the camp, the greatest part of his time was employed in reading and writing; and the day which preceded one of his most bloody battles, while the rest of his army was under continual apprehensions, Brutus calmly spent his hours till the evening, in writing an epitome of Polybius. He was fond of imitating the austere virtues of Cato, and in reading the histories of nations he imbibed those principles of freedom which were so eminently displayed in his political career. He was intimate with Cicero, to whom he would have communicated his conspiracy, had he not been apprehensive of his great timidity. He severely reprimanded him in his letters for joining the side of Octavius, who meditated the ruin of the republic. Plutarch mentions that Cæsar’s ghost made its appearance to Brutus in his tent, and told him that he would meet him at Philippi. Brutus married Portia the daughter of Cato, who killed herself by swallowing burning coals when she heard the fate of her husband. Cornel i us Nepos , Atticus .— Paterculus , bk. 2 , ch. 48 .— Plutarch , Brutus , . ; Cæsar , ch. 1 .— Florus , bk. 4 .――Decimus Junius Albinus, one of Cæsar’s murderers, who, after the battle of Mutina, was deserted by the legions, with which he wished to march against Antony. He was put to death by Antony’s orders, though consul elect.――Junius, one of the first tribunes of the people. Plutarch. ――One of Carbo’s generals.