History of Marcus Junius Brutus
Brutus claimed decent from Lucius Brutus, who in 509 BC is credited
with expelling the last king to rule Rome (Tarquinius Superbus) and
subsequently served as the first consul of Rome. Brutus was proud
of his republican ancestry. He was well educated and a member of an
elite family. He was also a good friend of Julius Caesar who considered
him his protege and maybe his son, born of an affair with Brutus'
mother "Servilia". Despite their relationship Caesar and
Brutus were in conflict on affairs of state. Brutus joined with Pompey,
even so Caesar ordered that Brutus was not to be hurt and after the
defeat at the Battle of Pharasalus Brutus was appointed legate in
Cilicia and later proconsul of Cisalpine Gaul and finally in 44 BC
Brutus was appointed to a "praetorship urbanus" in Rome.
Despite all that he owned to Caesar, Brutus could not tolerate Caesar
as a tyrant and participated in Caesar's assassination on the ides
of March 44 BC.
After Caesar's assassination, Brutus went to Greece where he gained
support. In the summer of 43 BC Brutus campaigned against the Bessi
in Thrace, where he was hailed Imperator. In early 42 BC, Cassius
and Brutus met at Smyrna where they planned for the upcoming conflict
with Octavian and Mark Antony. This was followed by Brutus' successful
campaign in Lycia with the help of his fleet commander "Casca".
Brutus and Cassius met again in the summer of 42 BC, where they planned
their war against Octavian and Antony and departed for Greece. In
the summer of 42 BC, the two armies met at Philippi in norther Greece.
There was 2 battles about 3 weeks apart in October 42 BC. The first
battle was won through some fast action by Brutus, but apparently
Cassius thought the battle was lost and commited suicide. The second
battle started out good for Brutus, but soon turned against him. Brutus
escaped with a handful of close friends and committed suicide on 23
October 42 BC.
