Marcus Junius Brutus

Marcus Junius Brutus led the conspiracy that killed Julius Caesar and destroyed the republic he intended to save. Born around 85 BC, he claimed descent from Lucius Junius Brutus, who by tradition expelled the last king of Rome — a genealogy his fellow conspirators used to press him. His father was killed by Pompey in 77 BC, and his mother Servilia was Caesar's long-standing mistress, which produced persistent rumours that Caesar was his father; the chronology makes it very unlikely. He was a Stoic, wrote philosophical works, and made money lending to the city of Salamis in Cyprus at forty-eight per cent, a rate Cicero as governor refused to enforce. Despite his father's death he sided with Pompey in the civil war. After Pharsalus in 48 BC Caesar pardoned him, promoted him, and made him governor of Cisalpine Gaul and praetor. He joined the conspiracy in 44 BC, persuaded by Cassius and by anonymous notes left on the tribunal of his ancestor's statue. Caesar was stabbed twenty-three times in the Theatre of Pompey on 15 March. The conspirators had no plan for afterwards. Brutus insisted on sparing Mark Antony and on letting him speak at the funeral, both of which proved fatal; the crowd turned and the liberators fled Rome. He raised armies in Greece and Macedonia and joined Cassius. At Philippi in October 42 BC Brutus beat Octavian's wing while Cassius, defeated by Antony, killed himself on a false report. Three weeks later Brutus lost the second engagement and fell on his sword.

• Lived: 85 BCE – 42 BCE
• Nationality: Italian
• Roles: senator, conspirator