Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Brutus, Marcus Junius

BRUTUS, MARCUS JUNIUS, an illustrious Roman, one of the murderers of Julius Cæsar. His mother was the sister of Cato. He at first sided with Pompey, but, being treated with great lenity after the battle of Pharsalia, he attached himself to Cæsar, by whom he was greatly caressed and trusted. But the stern Republican spirit of Brutus rendered it impossible for all Cæsar's kindness to him to reconcile him to Cæsar's ambition; and he at length conspired with Cassius and others, and slew him on the Ides of March 44 B. C. Antony succeeded in exciting the popular indignation against the murderers, who fled from Rome, and raised an army, of which Brutus and Cassius took the command; but being totally defeated at the battle of Philippi, where they encountered the army of Antony and Octavianus, Brutus escaped with only a few friends, and believing his cause ruined urged his friend Strato to kill him. This for a time the latter refused to do, but at last, presenting the sword as he turned away his face, the noble Roman fell on it and expired, 36 B. C., in the 43d year of his age.

MARCUS JUNIUS BRUTUS