Marcus Junius Brutus Timeline 85 BCE-42 BCE

A son, Marcus Junius Brutus Caepio was born to the Roman politician Marcus Junius Brutus and Servilia.

Marcus’ father took part in the unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the government of Sulla. For his part in the plot he was killed on the order of Gnaeus Pompey.

Marcus was adopted by his uncle, Quintus Servilius Caepio, and took the name Quintus Caepio Brutus. He was known as Brutus.

Brutus was educated by Marcus Porcius Cato, his mother’s half-brother.

It is likely that Brutus had been engaged to Julius Caesar’s daughter Julia. Brutus’s mother, Servilia was the lover of Caesar. The engagement was broken when Julius gave Julia to Pompey as part of the agreement between Julius, Pompey and Crassus known as the First Triumvirate. Brutus allied himself with the opponents of the Triumvirate known as the Optimates.

Marcus Brutus was falsely accused of being part of a conspiracy to kill Pompey.

Brutus went to Cyprus with Cato. Cyprus had been annexed by Pompey. Marcus made a loan to the city of Salamis with an interest rate of 48%.

Brutus returned to Rome a wealthy man.

Marcus Brutus married Claudia Pulchra, daughter of Appius Claudius Pulcher who had been praetor in 57BC.

Marcus Brutus was appointed quasetor and was responsible for the collection of taxes in Cilicia.

Brutus allied himself with Cicero and Cato intent on defending the Senate against the increasing power of the generals, Julius Caesar and Gnaeus Pompey.

Civil war broke out between Julius Caesar and Gnaeus Pompey. Brutus sided with Pompey and fled Rome.

Battle of Pharsalus
This decisive battle saw the forces of Gnaeus Pompey defeated by those of Julius Caesar. Although he had sided with Pompey, Julius Caesar gave Brutus an amnesty and Brutus allied himself with Caesar.

Julius Caesar appointed Marcus Brutus governor of Cisalpine Gaul.

Brutus divorced Claudia and married Cato’s daughter, Porcia Catonis. This caused a scandal because Brutus did not give a valid reason for the divorce.

A son was born to Brutus and Porcia. He died in 43BC.

Marcus Brutus was appointed praetor.

Julius Caesar made it clear that he would not restore the republic and saw himself as king of Rome. He was proclaimed dictator for life.

Brutus was one of the leaders of a plot to assassinate Julius Caesar and restore the republic. The conspirators called themselves the Liberators.

When Julius Caesar entered the Senate he was immediately surrounded by the assassin senators. Caesar initially believed they were wishing to pay their respects and was shocked when he was stabbed for the first time. When he realised what was happening and that he was powerless to stop the violence he covered his head with his toga. He was stabbed 23 times with the final wound being inflicted by Marcus Brutus.

Consul Marc Antony took control of Caesar’s money and papers.

Marc Antony called a meeting of the Senate. He offered the assassins an amnesty in exchange for recognition of himself as leader of Rome.

Julius Caesar’s will was read. It revealed that he had chosen to posthumously adopt Octavian and make him his heir.

Julius Caesar’s body was burned in the forum. Marc Antony made an inflammatory speech to the citizens of Rome blaming the Liberators for Caesar’s death.

Following Marc Antony’s speech to Rome, Brutus was forced to leave Rome. He chose to go East with Cassius. Brutus’s wife remained in Italy.

When he learned that his great-uncle had been assassinated, Octavian returned to Italy. He landed at Lupiae near Brundisium. Here he learned that he had been adopted by Julius Caesar and made his heir. Octavian changed his name to Gaius julius Caesar Octavianus to reflect his adoption.

Octavian decided that as his great-uncle’s heir he would take control of Rome. In order to do this he needed to enter Rome with an army. Julius Caesar had been planning a war against the Parthian Empire and had money and troops stationed at Brundisium. Octavian took control of that money and those troops that wished to follow him, around 3,000 men.

Octavian and his army reached Rome. He learned of Marc Antony’s truce with the Senate and the amnesty for the Liberators. He was further angered when Marc Antony refused to hand over Julius Caesar’s money.

Octavian began to win over a number of senators, mostly those that had been opposed to Caesar, including Cicero.

Marc Antony lost control of Rome to Caesar’s adopted son, Octavian after Octavian bought off two of his legions. Marc Antony fled to Cisalpine Gaul which he had been granted by the Senate but which was held by Decimus Brutus, one of the Liberators.

Decimus Brutus refused to give up Cisalpine Gaul so Marc Antony lay siege to Mutina where Decimus was stationed.

Octavian was made a senator with the power to vote with the consuls. He was also made propraetor imperium which gave him control of troops.

Marcus Brutus was recognised as governor of Macedonia by the Senate. He had coins minted with his own likeness on the reverse.

Octavian was sent at the head of an army controlled by the Consuls Hirtius and Pansa, to break Marc Antony’s siege of Mutina.

Battle of Forum Gallorum
This battle saw Marc Antony defeat the forces controlled by Consul Pansa. Pansa was mortally wounded and died 8 days later.

Battle of Mutina
This battle, between forces commanded by consul Hirtius and led by Octavian saw consul Hirtius killed, leaving Octavian in charge of the forces against Marc Antony. Octavian then chose to make peace with Marc Antony knowing that together they could destroy the republic and eliminate the assassins of Julius Caesar.

Brutus and Cassius began to raise forces to take Rome from Octavian and restore the Senate.

Second Triumvirate
This was an agreement between Octavian, Marc Antony and Lepidus to kill the assassins of Julius Caesar, destroy the republic and take control of Rome.

The Senate formally recognised Julius Caesar as Divus Lulius, a god of the Roman state. This enabled Octavian to add Divi filius, son of God, to his name.

Octavian was appointed consul of Rome. He declared the amnesty granted to the Liberators to be illegal and proclaimed the assassins of Julius Caesar to be outlaws – their estates were to be sold and proceeds used to fund troops to destroy Brutus and Cassius.

Marc Antony and Octavian crossed the Adriatic sea with 28 legions to meet the forces of Marcus Brutus and Cassius.

Battle of Philippi
In this first engagement of the battle, Brutus managed to overrun Octavian’s camp. However, Marc Antony had defeated the forces of Cassius and Cassius committed suicide rather than be captured.

Battle of Philippi
In this second engagement Octavian and Marc Antony defeated Brutus. Brutus fled the battlefield.

Marcus Brutus committed suicide rather than face capture by Octavian and Marc Antony. Marc Antony found Brutus’s body and wrapped it in cloth and took it back to camp for cremation. Octavian insisted that the corpse be beheaded and the head displayed.

Marc Antony sent Brutus’s ashes to his mother Servilia.