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With reverence, Antony then used his most expensive cape to cloak Brutus’s body-though this garment was swiftly stolen. Rather than be captured, he famously took his own life in 42 BCE. The forces assembled by the exiled Brutus proved no match for the combined might of those of Antony and Octavian (Caesar’s nephew). Mark Antony Ensured That Brutus Received a Proper Burial. Coins Complete With Daggers Were Once Issued in His Honor.Īfter slaying Caesar, Brutus’s team (which called itself “the freedom party”) fled to Macedonia, where local coins featuring his profile on one side and two down-turned knives on the other were produced. One historian reported that witnesses saw him take a good look at Brutus and utter “Kai su, teknon?” which, in Greek, means “You too, child?” 12. Sorry, Shakespeare: Nobody’s quite sure what Caesar said just before he died. Caesar’s Last Words Probably Weren’t “Et tu, Brute?” But this gesture was in vain-Atticus found the plan far too risky. In the early days of the conspiracy, he treated a wealthy activist by the name of Titus Pomponius Atticus to an excellent meal.

Great conspiracies don't come cheap, so Brutus fell back on that favorite moneymaking operation of modern politicians, the fundraising dinner. He Tried Raising Money for Caesar’s Assassins with Food.Īppalled by Julius Caesar’s ascent to absolute power and a new title that translated into "dictator in perpetuity," Brutus joined the conspiracy that helped organize the leader's murder. “Brutus”, she said, “… how can I show thee any grateful service if I am to share neither thy secret suffering nor the anxiety which craves a loyal confidant?” As Brutus looked on in astonishment, Porcia argued that if she could bear such agony without complaint, she could also be trusted with his schemes. One day, she grabbed a butcher’s knife and quietly stabbed herself in the thigh until “there was a copious flow of blood”. When you marry your cousin, things are bound to get a little weird. As Plutarch reveals, Brutus’ second wife literally took great pains to learn his secrets. 9. Porcia Once Proved her Loyalty to Him Via Self-Mutilation. He presented many original verses at libraries, though none survive today. In His Spare Time, Brutus Took Up Poetry. His Name Appears in Ancient Graffiti.Īncient Roman graffiti artists had a field day with Brutus, marking up a statue of the praetor with such zingers as “Brutus, you are sleeping,” “Would that you were living!” and “You are not Brutus.” Clearly, his approval ratings left a bit to be desired. While still wed to a well-regarded socialite named Claudia Pulchra, Brutus fell for Porcia Catonis, an articulate, well-educated relative. Brutus Divorced His First Wife So He Could Marry His Cousin. Cicero Dedicated a Masterful Text to Him.Īn admirer of Brutus’s soaring speeches, this esteemed philosopher penned a popular compendium about public speaking in 46 BCE, which he titled Brutus, a History of Famous Orators. (Make note of this guy-you’ll be seeing a lot of him.) 5. Brutus’s appointment irked Gaius Cassius Longinus, who had wanted the job and considered himself better qualified.

… And a Praetor in 44.Ī praetor was a high-ranking political official who was responsible for carrying out Roman justice. Īfter the pardon, Brutus's career took off. According to the great historian Plutarch, Brutus treated Gaul well, and her cities flourished under his leadership. En route to defeating his rival, Caesar defeated Brutus’s forces before pardoning Servilia’s son. During Caesar’s Civil War, Brutus Picked the Losing Side.Įven though Caesar's rival, Pompey, had killed Brutus’s father, Brutus sided with Pompey when the statesman went to war with Caesar in 49 BCE. Their affair ended up spanning decades and became one of ancient Rome’s worst-kept secrets.

Brutus's Mother was Caesar’s Longtime Mistress.īrutus's mom, Servilia Caepionis, and the future dictator first became intimate when they were in their thirties. While we observe the anniversary of Caesar's untimely demise, let’s take a closer look at the assassination's divisive figure and draw our own conclusions. On this date in 44 BCE, Marcus Junius Brutus and as many as 59 accomplices orchestrated the most famous assassination of all time.