|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
Brutus
Brutus , in ancient Rome, a surname of the Junian gens. Lucius Junius Brutus, fl. 510 BC, was the founder of the Roman republic. He feigned idiocy to escape death at the hands of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus (see under Tarquin ). Roman historians tell how he led the Romans in expelling the Tarquins after the rape of Lucrece, how he became one of the first praetors (there were no consuls), and how he executed his sons for plotting a Tarquinian restoration. Decimus Junius Brutus Gallaecus, fl. 138 BC, consul, consolidated the province of Farther Spain and stopped the encroaching Lusitanian tribespeople. Marcus Junius Brutus, d. c.77 BC, was a partisan of Lepidus (d. 77 BC) in the struggle with Catulus (d. 60 BC); Pompey had him murdered. His wife Servilia was the half sister of Cato the Younger. Their son was Marcus Junius Brutus, 85? BC–42 BC He and Caius Cassius Longinus (see under Cassius ) were the principal assassins of Julius Caesar . He had sided with Pompey, but after the battle of Pharsalus , Caesar pardoned him, made him governor of Cisalpine Gaul (46 BC), and, in 44 BC, urban praetor. Nevertheless, he joined Cassius in the plot against Caesar. After the murder of Caesar, Brutus went east and, in the republican cause, joined Cassius and held Macedonia with him. Late in 42 BC, Octavian (later Augustus ) and Antony arrived, and a battle was fought at Philippi. When it went against the republicans, Brutus committed suicide. Brutus' wife Portia was the daughter of Cato the Younger. Brutus had a contemporary reputation as a Stoic philosopher, and his admirers have regarded him as a second Cato, driven reluctantly to commit murder in order to save the republic. His detractors, on the other hand, have considered his friendship with the self-seeking Cassius as indicative of his true character. A lesser member of the conspiracy was Decimus Junius Brutus, d. 43 BC, a partisan of Caesar against Pompey and a favorite of the dictator. Caesar gave him command in Gaul and appointed him to be his heir in case of Octavian's death. After Caesar's death, Brutus refused to surrender Cisalpine Gaul. In 43 BC, Antony, to whom the senate had assigned the province, besieged Brutus at Mutina (modern Modena). He tried to escape and was killed. |
|
|
Cite this article
"Brutus." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Brutus." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Brutus.html "Brutus." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Brutus.html |
|
Brutus
Brutus ♂ From an old Roman family name, borne most notably by the statesman Marcus Junius Brutus, who was one of the assassins of Julius Caesar. It is therefore sometimes taken as symbolic of resistance to tyranny. It was originally a byname meaning ‘dull’ or ‘stupid’, and is still only occasionally used as a first name because of its association with the English vocabulary word ‘brute’. Junius Brutus Booth (1796–1852), father of the actor Edwin Thomas Booth and Lincoln's assassin John Wilkes Booth, was explicitly named in admiration for the Roman who struck a blow for freedom in conspiring against an elected official who had become a tyrant.
|
|
|
Cite this article
PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Brutus." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Brutus." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Brutus.html PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Brutus." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Brutus.html |
|
Brutus
Brutus2 name of an important family in ancient Rome.
Lucius Junius Brutus the legendary founder of the Roman Republic. Traditionally he led a popular uprising after the rape of Lucretia, against the king (his uncle) and drove him from Rome. He and the father of Lucretia were elected as the first consuls of the Republic (509 bc). Marcus Junius Brutus (85–42 bc), Roman senator, with Cassius led the conspirators who assassinated Julius Caesar in 44. They were defeated by Caesar's supporters, Antony and Octavian, at the battle of Philippi in 42, after which he committed suicide. |
|
|
Cite this article
ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Brutus." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Brutus." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Brutus1.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Brutus." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Brutus1.html |
|
Brutus
Brutus. In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, Decius Brutus is one of the conspirators. Marcus Brutus is the idealistic friend of Caesar who is persuaded by Cassius to join the conspiracy. Caesar receives his wound from Brutus with the legendary words ‘Et tu, Brute?—Then fall, Caesar!’ (iii. i. 76). Antony's tribute to Brutus after his death as ‘the noblest Roman of them all’ (V. v. 68) is well known. The internal deliberations of Brutus have been seen as precursors of those of Hamlet, hero of what was probably Shakespeare's next play.
|
|
|
Cite this article
MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Brutus." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Brutus." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-Brutus.html MARGARET DRABBLE and JENNY STRINGER. "Brutus." The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature. 2003. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O54-Brutus.html |
|
Brutus
Brutus. Contrived eponym and progenitor of the British people, as found in Geoffrey of Monmouth (1136). A leader of the Trojans, he dreams of the temple of Diana beyond the setting sun. After invading the island, he defeats the giant Gogmagog and establishes law in the land named for him, Britain [W Prydain].
|
|
|
Cite this article
JAMES MacKILLOP. "Brutus." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES MacKILLOP. "Brutus." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-Brutus.html JAMES MacKILLOP. "Brutus." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-Brutus.html |
|
Brutus
|
|
|
Cite this article
"Brutus." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Brutus." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-BrutusTroy.html "Brutus." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-BrutusTroy.html |
|
BRUTUS
BRUTUS, see Garby-Czerniawski.
|
|
|
Cite this article
I. C. B. DEAR and M. R. D. FOOT. "BRUTUS." The Oxford Companion to World War II. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. I. C. B. DEAR and M. R. D. FOOT. "BRUTUS." The Oxford Companion to World War II. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O129-BRUTUS.html I. C. B. DEAR and M. R. D. FOOT. "BRUTUS." The Oxford Companion to World War II. 2001. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O129-BRUTUS.html |
|
Brutus
Brutus
•cactus • saltus • Diophantus • Sanctus
•Rastus, Theophrastus
•altostratus, cirrostratus, nimbostratus, stratus
•conspectus, prospectus
•momentous, portentous
•asbestos, Festus
•apparatus, Donatus, hiatus, status
•acetous, boletus, Cetus, Epictetus, fetus, Miletus, quietus
•Hephaestus
•Benedictus, ictus, rictus
•Quintus • linctus • eucalyptus • cistus
•coitus
•circuitous, fortuitous, gratuitous
•Hippolytus • calamitous • tinnitus
•Iapetus • crepitus
•precipitous, serendipitous
•impetus • emeritus • spiritous
•Democritus, Theocritus
•Tacitus • necessitous
•duplicitous, felicitous, solicitous
•covetous
•iniquitous, ubiquitous
•detritus, Heraclitus, Polyclitus, Titus, Vitus
•Pocahontas, Pontus
•Plautus, tortoise
•cobaltous
•Duns Scotus, lotus
•hostess
•arbutus, Brutus
•Eustace • conductus • cultus
•coitus interruptus • Augustus
•riotous • Herodotus • Oireachtas
|
|
|
Cite this article
"Brutus." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Brutus." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Brutus.html "Brutus." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Brutus.html |
|
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
