What is Marcus Junius Brutus?
{{Infobox person | name = Marcus Junius Brutus | image = Portrait Brutus Massimo.jpg | alt = | caption = Marble bust of Brutus, National Museum of Rome. | birth_date = June 85 BC | birth_place = [[Rome]] | death_date = October 23, 42 BC (aged 43) | death_place = [[Philippi]], Roman province of [[Macedonia (Roman province)|Macedonia]] | nationality = | other_names = | known_for = [[Assassination of Julius Caesar]] | occupation = Politician, jurist, military commander | movement = ''Liberatores'' }} '''Marcus Junius Brutus''' (early June 85 BC – late October [[42 BC]]), usually referred to as '''Brutus''', was a politician of the late [[Roman Republic]]. He is best known for his leading role in the [[assassination of Julius Caesar]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230928120353/http://www.forumromanum.org/literature/eutropius/trans6.html#25 Europius, ''Abridgement of Roman History'']</ref> == Early life == Brutus' father was killed by [[Pompey|Pompey the Great]] after he had taken part in the rebellion of [[Lepidus]]. His mother was the half-sister of [[Cato the Younger]], and later became Julius Caesar's mistress. Some sources refer to the possibility of Caesar being his real father. His uncle [[Adoption|adopted]] him in about 59 BC. Brutus held his uncle in high regard. His political career began when he became an assistant to Cato, during his governorship of [[Cyprus]]. During this time, Brutus enriched himself by lending money at high rates of [[interest]]. He returned to Rome a rich man, where he married Claudia Pulchra. From his first appearance in the Senate, Brutus aligned with the [[Optimates]]. This was the [[Conservatism|conservative]] faction against the [[First Triumvirate]] of [[Marcus Licinius Crassus]], [[Pompey|Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus]] and [[Gaius Julius Caesar]]. == Senate career == When [[civil war]] broke out in 49 BC between Pompey and Caesar, Brutus followed his old enemy and present leader of the Optimates, Pompey. When the [[Battle of Pharsalus]] began