Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus
Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus (born April 27,ca. 85–81 BC, died 43 BC) was a Roman politician and general of the 1st century BC and one of the leading instigators of Julius Caesar's assassination. Decimus Brutus is not to be confused with the more famous Brutus among the conspirators, Marcus Brutus.
Life
Early life
Decimus Brutus was a distant cousin of Julius Caesar, and on several occasions Caesar expressed how he loved Brutus like a son. Ronald Syme argued that if a Brutus was the natural son of Caesar, Decimus was more likely than Marcus (another distant cousin). Decimus was named an heir in the second degree in Caesar's will.
Decimus Brutus spent his youth mainly in the company of Publius Clodius, Gaius Curio and Mark Antony. His mother was Sempronia Tuditani, wife of Decimus Junius Brutus who was consul in 77 BC. He was adopted by Aulus Postumius Albinus, but kept his own family name, only adding his adoptive father's cognomen Albinus.
During the Wars
He served in Caesar's army during the Gallic wars and was given the command of the fleet in the war against the Veneti in 56 BC. In a decisive sea battle Decimus Brutus succeeded in destroying the Veneti fleet. Using sickle-like hooks fitted on long poles, Decimus Brutus attacked the enemy's sails, leaving them immobilized and easy prey to Roman boarding parties. He also served against Vercingetorix in 52 BC.
Decimus Junius Brutus
Decimus Junius Brutus may refer to:
Decimus Junius Brutus (consul 77 BC)
Decimus Junius Brutus (fl. 1st century BC) was a Roman politician who was elected consul in 77 BC.
Biography
A member of the Plebeian gens Junia, he was one of the young nobles who fought against Lucius Appuleius Saturninus and killed him and his followers in the Curia Hostilia. A supporter of the Dictator, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, he was elected Praetor, probably in 80 BC. He was criticised for his support of Sulla after Sulla’s death by Marcus Aemilius Lepidus.
In 77 BC, he was elected consul alongside Mamercus Aemilius Lepidus Livianus. Neither Junius Brutus nor his consular colleague accepted a proconsular command in Hispania to help Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius in the Sertorian War.
In 74 BC, Junius Brutus put up his lands for security on behalf of a relative who was brought up on charges before Verres, the praetor urbanus. Brutus was still alive in 63 BC, when his wife was caught up in the conspiracy of Catiline. It was during one of his absences from Rome that the conspirators met at his house.
