Lucius Junius Brutus
Lucius Junius Brutus was a pivotal figure in early Roman history, known for his role in the overthrow of the last Roman king, Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, in 509 B.C.E. According to historical accounts, Brutus witnessed the king's tyrannical actions, including the murder of his own relatives, which compelled him to feign ignorance to survive. His moment of decisive action came after the tragic suicide of Lucretia, who named Sextus Tarquinius as her rapist, prompting Brutus to lead a revolt against the royal family. Following this uprising, he was elected one of the first consuls of Rome, symbolizing the establishment of the Republic.
Despite his heroic efforts, Brutus faced a personal tragedy when he discovered that his own sons conspired to restore the monarchy. In a grim twist of loyalty, he ordered their execution upon their exposure. Brutus's life ended in battle, where he was killed by one of the king's sons. His legacy is deeply intertwined with themes of democracy and resistance against tyranny, with his name becoming synonymous with the values of liberation and justice in Roman culture. The women of Rome particularly honored him as an avenger of Lucretia's honor, marking his significant impact on societal values of the time.
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Lucius Junius Brutus
Related civilization: Prerepublican Rome
Major role/position: Consul
Life
According to the historian Livy, as a young man Lucius Junius Brutus (LEW-shee-uhs JEWN-yuhs BREW-tuhs) watched the tyrannical Roman king Lucius Tarquinius Superbus kill his male relatives and take his possessions. To save himself and wait for the right time to act, he pretended to be slow-witted, brutus in Latin.
One day, Brutus happened to be present when the king’s sons posed a question to the Oracle at Delphi about who would next rule prerebulican Rome. When Brutus heard the answer, “he who kisses his mother first,” he pretended to fall on the ground and touched his lips to the earth, the mother of all.
A few months later, Brutus was present when Lucretia committed suicide after naming Sextus Tarquinius, Superbus’s youngest son, as her rapist. Brutus stepped forward to lead the people in expelling the royal family. For his heroism, he was elected one of the first consuls of Rome in 509 b.c.e.
While Brutus was consul, his own sons plotted to return the Tarquins to power in Rome. When they were exposed, Brutus had to preside over their execution.
Brutus died in battle, killed by Arruns, one of Superbus’s sons. The women of Rome mourned him for a year as an avenger of a woman’s honor because he began his revolution to avenge the rape of Lucretia.
Influence
Since the beginning of the Roman Republic, the name Brutus has signified democracy and liberation in opposition to tyranny and oppression.
Bibliography
Livy. The Rise of Rome. Translated by T. J. Luce. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 1999.