Brutus: The Rise & Fall of the Senator Who Assassinated Julius Caesar

Marcus Junius Brutus—or simply “Brutus”—was one of the most enigmatic and infamous figures in Roman history. Born into a prestigious aristocratic family, tracing its origins to the semi-legendary founder of the Roman Republic, Brutus played a pivotal role in the waning decades of the Republic. A close friend and ally of Julius Caesar, Brutus became disillusioned with his mentor’s absolutist tendencies. After Caesar declared himself dictator-for-life, Brutus joined the senatorial conspiracy, culminating with Caesar’s assassination on the “Ides of March” in 44 BCE. The act, meant to save the Republic, instead plunged Rome further into chaos, with Brutus committing suicide after the defeat at the Battle of Philippi in 42 BCE. Another civil war followed, which toppled the Republic, ushering in the era of the Roman Empire.

His legacy remains complex and debated for posterity, as Brutus’s life and career encapsulate the complex political situation in the tumultuous and bloody transition from the Republic into the Empire.

Marcus Junius Brutus, (in)famous Roman senator and politician, came from a distinguished background. The gens Junia was one of the most prestigious families of ancient Rome, tracing its roots to Lucius Junius Brutus, the semi-legendary founder of the Roman Republic. He led the revolt against the last Roman king—Tarquinius Superbus—and became one of the first two consuls in 509 BCE. Thus, Brutus was well aware of his illustrious ancestor and the pivotal role his family played in the history of the Republic. This proud legacy would shape Brutus’ life and career and eventually lead to Caesar’s assassination.

However, Brutus’ political career faced challenges due to his father’s (also named Marcus Junius Brutus) opposition to Sulla and later Pompey the Great. Only through his connection with Cato the Younger—half-brother of his mother Servilla—who happened to be one of the most influential figures in Rome, was Brutus able to join Roman politics amid the turbulent times of the late Republic.

Brutus and Caesar: From Enemies to the Closest Allies

Cato instilled in Brutus the Stoic virtues and a deep commitment to the ideals of the Roman Republic. Brutus’ political career initially saw him opposing Pompey’s increasing power. However, after Caesar crossed the Rubicon, initiating a civil war, Brutus allied with Pompey, his father’s former adversary. Despite their past conflicts, Brutus was pardoned by Caesar following the Battle of Pharsalus. This act of clemency could potentially be influenced by his mother’s intimate relationship with Caesar. What followed was Brutus’ meteoric rise to the top of the Roman hierarchy, serving as a governor in 47 BCE and then a praetor in 44. He was even designated for a consulship in 41 BCE, indicating the trust and esteem Caesar had for Brutus.

Despite these honors, Brutus gradually became disillusioned as Caesar consolidated power. By 45 BCE, Caesar’s dictatorial tendencies had deepened the rift in Rome, compelling Brutus to choose between his allegiance to Caesar and his republican values. After all, who could stop the dictator if not the scion of the very founder of the Republic?

In 44 BCE, after eliminating the last military opposition at the Battle of Munda, Julius Caesar was declared “dictator perpetuo” or “dictator-for-life.” For his enemies, this appointment was akin to the establishment of a monarchy. By this time, Brutus had chosen his side and joined the senatorial conspiracy, along with Cassius, another of Caesar’s former allies. With Caesar preparing for his campaign against Parthia, time was running out. Thus, on the “Ides of March,” or March 15th, 44 BCE, the conspirators, self-styled as the “Liberatores,” made their move. During the Senate meeting, Brutus approached Caesar and stabbed him with a dagger. More senators followed Brutus’ lead, and after twenty-three stabs, Julius Caesar—the dictator in perpetuity—lay dead, his body at the base of the Curia of Pompey in the Theatre of Pompey—his late rival.

While it is likely a dramatic invention, Caesar’s supposed last words, “Et tu Brute” or, more correctly in Greek, “kai su teknon” (You too, child?), have become synonymous with betrayal, tarnishing Brutus’ name for posterity.

EID MAR: The Hero of the Republic

While his name is controversial nowadays, following the assassination, Brutus was initially hailed as a savior of the Republic, echoing the legacy of his illustrious ancestor, Lucius Junius Brutus. In an effort to legitimize the act, Brutus minted the famed “EID MAR” denarius. The coin displays the portrait of Brutus on the obverse and two daggers with a pileus cap (given to freed slaves) on the reverse, representing the assassination as a noble act as the liberation of Rome from tyranny.

Brutus’ golden and silver coins were likely intended to pay the soldiers, with the Brutus portrait (ironically following Caesar’s precedent of placing his own image on coins) used to secure the troops’ loyalty as Rome was bracing for another civil war. The “EID MAR” denarius, with which conspirators justified assassination, was withdrawn from circulation by Mark Antony, and is thus one of the rarest (and most valuable) ancient coins.

Brutus’ decision to spare Caesar’s closest associate and ally, Mark Antony, proved fatal. Antony, a shrewd orator, turned public sentiment against the Liberators with his funeral oration for Caesar. The ensuing turmoil and political pressure compelled Brutus and Cassius to escape Rome. They retreated to the eastern provinces, raising an army. In 42 BCE, they engaged Octavian and Mark Antony’s forces at the Battle of Philippi. The initial battle was inconclusive, but the subsequent clash led to a decisive defeat for Brutus and Cassius. Cassius, misinformed about the outcome of the first battle, committed suicide. Brutus, too, committed suicide following their defeat in the second battle, on October 23rd, 42 BCE, effectively ending the Liberators’ resistance.

Subsequently, another conflict erupted between Octavian and Antony, who had allied with Cleopatra, the queen of Ptolemaic Egypt. Octavian’s triumph at the Battle of Actium in 31 BCE ultimately sealed the Republic’s fate. Finally, in 27 BCE, Octavian dropped all pretenses to restore the Republic and became Emperor Augustus, ushering in a new era: the Roman Empire.

Unsurprisingly, the new regime tarnished Brutus’ name, a man who dared to kill a god, as Caesar was deified after his death. However, despite the infamous act, Brutus’ role in history remains complex and debated—the man who tried but failed to save the Republic.