Brutus, Marcus Junius

Roman senator and general who conspired with Cassius to assassinate Julius Caesar in order to restore the purity of the Republic. He and Cassius were defeated by the united forces of Mark Antony and Octavian at Philippi in 42 BC, and Brutus committed suicide.

Brutus joined the optimates (who aimed to increase the authority of the Senate) on the outbreak of civil war in 49 BC, but Caesar pardoned him after the Battle of Pharsalus and made him governor of Cisalpine Gaul in 46 BC and praetor in 44 BC. After Caesar's murder, Brutus spent a short time in Italy before taking possession of his province of Macedonia. He and Cassius raised an army to fight Mark Antony and Octavian, persuading most of the Macedonian forces to join them. In 42 BC they met Antony and Octavian at Philippi. Brutus inflicted a sharp reverse on Octavian's soldiers in the first battle, but could not prevent the defeat and suicide of Cassius. He was defeated in the second battle and killed himself to avoid capture.