Brutus

Brutus is a Latin given name and surname that appears in ancient Roman history and later literary tradition. It is most closely associated with Marcus Junius Brutus, a leading conspirator in the assassination of Julius Caesar, and with Lucius Junius Brutus, a legendary founder of the Roman Republic.

Lucius Junius Brutus is a legendary figure credited with expelling the last Roman king and founding the Republic, becoming one of Rome's first consuls. Marcus Junius Brutus (ca. 85–42 BCE) was a senator who joined the conspiracy against Caesar. Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus (d. 43 BCE) was another conspirator and general allied with Brutus.

Following Caesar's murder, Brutus and the other conspirators faced forces led by Mark Antony and Octavian. Brutus and Cassius were ultimately defeated at the Battle of Philippi in 42 BCE; Brutus is said to have died by suicide after the defeat.

In literature, Brutus is a central figure in William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, where he is portrayed as a noble but conflicted defender of the Republic. The name has since become associated with republican virtue and the tension between personal loyalty and political ideals.

Other uses include appearances in later fiction and a historical Windows password-cracking utility named Brutus, reflecting the association of the name with force and intrusion. The enduring presence of Brutus in history and culture has made it a common reference point for discussions of political ethics and betrayal.