Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus

2.1. Birth and Family

Decimus Brutus was born on April 27, likely in 81 BC, though some sources suggest slightly earlier dates such as 84 BC or 85 BC. He was the son of Decimus Junius Brutus, who served as consul in 77 BC, and his mother was likely Sempronia, a prominent figure known for her involvement in the Catiline Conspiracy of 63 BC. While some scholars, such as Ronald Syme, hypothesized his mother might have been Postumia due to his later adoption, this theory has not gained widespread acceptance. Decimus Brutus hailed from a distinguished lineage; his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather had all attained the consulship, demonstrating his family's long-standing influence in Roman politics. His mother was also believed to be a descendant of Gaius Gracchus, the renowned popular reformer.

Adding another layer to his family ties, Decimus Brutus was formally adopted by a patrician named Aulus Postumius Albinus, a moneyer during the Sullan dictatorship in 81 BC. This adoption connected him to one of Rome's ancient noble houses. Although he was sometimes referred to as 'Albinus' in ancient texts and on coins he minted himself, Decimus did not customarily change his name to reflect the adoption. His contemporaries consistently addressed him by his birth name, even in official capacities.

2.2. Youth and Early Relationships

In his formative years, Decimus Brutus associated with influential figures such as Publius Clodius Pulcher, Gaius Scribonius Curio, and Marcus Antonius, with whom he maintained a friendship from childhood. A particularly significant relationship was his close bond with Julius Caesar. Caesar reportedly cherished Decimus Brutus like a son and often referred to him as "young Brutus" during their campaigns. This paternal affection was so profound that Ronald Syme proposed Decimus was more likely Caesar's natural son than Marcus Brutus, given Caesar's expressions of love towards him.

Caesar's deep trust in Decimus Brutus was further evidenced in his will, which named Decimus as an heir in the second degree, following Caesar's great-nephew, Gaius Octavius Thurinus (the future Augustus). The Roman historian Appian interpreted this designation as a de facto adoption of Decimus by Caesar. Furthermore, Decimus was designated as a potential guardian for any child Caesar might have. These facts highlight the extraordinary trust and affection Caesar held for Decimus Brutus, making his later involvement in the assassination particularly surprising to many.

3.1. Service in the Gallic Wars

Decimus Brutus's military career began with his service under Julius Caesar during the Gallic Wars. He played a crucial role in several key campaigns, earning Caesar's trust and demonstrating his capabilities as a commander. In 56 BC, he was entrusted with the command of Caesar's fleet during the war against the Veneti tribe, who were known for their strong naval power. In the decisive Battle of Morbihan, Decimus Brutus employed an ingenious tactic: his ships were fitted with sickle-like hooks on long poles, which were used to attack and cut the enemy's sails. This rendered the Veneti's ships immobile, making them easy targets for Roman boarding parties and ultimately leading to the destruction of their fleet and a Roman victory.

His contributions were not limited to naval operations; Decimus Brutus also served against Vercingetorix in 52 BC, participating in significant land battles, including the Battle of Alesia. Caesar frequently entrusted him with legion commands, underscoring his confidence in Decimus's leadership. A 48 BC Denarius minted by Decimus Brutus visually commemorates his service in Gaul, depicting the head of Mars, the Roman god of war, on one side, and Gallic carnyces (war trumpets) and shields on the reverse. This coinage serves as a tangible reminder of his vital role in Caesar's successful Gallic campaigns.

3.2. Civil War and Naval Operations

When the Republican Civil War erupted between Caesar and Pompey the Great, Decimus Brutus remained steadfastly loyal to Caesar. He was once again entrusted with critical naval operations. As noted by Richard Billows, Caesar's affection for Decimus Brutus during this period was akin to that for a son. In 50 BC, Decimus Brutus married Paula Valeria, the sister of Gaius Valerius Triarius.

A pivotal moment in the Civil War was the naval blockade of Massilia (present-day Marseille), a Greek city that had sided with Pompey. Caesar, in a hurry to advance to Hispania and cut off Pompey's legions, left Decimus Brutus in charge of this crucial operation. Within a remarkable thirty days, Decimus Brutus constructed an entire fleet from scratch. He then engaged and twice defeated the Massilian fleet in the Battle of Tauroento. Working in conjunction with Gaius Trebonius, who commanded the land siege, Decimus Brutus's naval success ensured the capitulation of Massilia. His actions during the Civil War further solidified his reputation as a highly capable military commander and a loyal supporter of Caesar. Another denarius minted by Decimus Brutus in 48 BC depicts Pietas on the obverse and clasped hands around a caduceus on the reverse, symbolizing Julius Caesar's policy of reconciliation during the Civil War, reflecting Decimus's continued support for Caesar at that time.

3.3. Public Offices and Administration

Following Caesar's victories in the Civil War, Decimus Brutus steadily advanced through Roman political offices, reflecting Caesar's trust and his growing political standing. He served as a Quaestor in 50 BC and as a legate in Transalpine Gaul between 47 BC and 46 BC. In 45 BC, he was appointed Praetor, specifically Praetor Peregrinus, a judicial office dealing with disputes involving foreigners, directly by Caesar.

Perhaps the most significant appointment was his designation as the governor of Cisalpine Gaul for the following year, 44 BC, with proconsular authority (imperium^Latin). He was even named a consul designate for 42 BC. These appointments demonstrate that Decimus Brutus was slated for a prominent future within Caesar's new order, including significant administrative responsibilities that would have granted him immense power and influence.

4.1. Involvement in the Conspiracy

Decimus Brutus's decision to join the conspiracy against Julius Caesar remains a subject of historical debate. Given Caesar's deep affection for him, his designation as an heir, and his promising political appointments, his involvement appears to contradict his personal interests. Some historians suggest he may have been convinced by his distant cousin, Marcus Junius Brutus, and Gaius Cassius Longinus, who were leading figures in the conspiracy and proponents of restoring the Republic. The precise motives behind his betrayal are not definitively known, but his participation was crucial to the success of the plot.

Intriguingly, when Caesar's will was publicly opened after his death, revealing Decimus Brutus as a second-degree heir, he was reportedly seen to turn pale and remained silent, possibly indicating regret or shock at the full implications of his actions. This reaction has led to speculation that he may not have fully grasped the profound consequences of his involvement until after the deed was done.

4.2. Execution of the Assassination

On the Ides of March (March 15), 44 BC, Decimus Brutus played a pivotal role in ensuring Caesar's presence at the Senate meeting in the Curia of Pompey. Caesar had initially decided not to attend the meeting due to concerns raised by his wife, Calpurnia, who had ominous dreams. It was Decimus Brutus who persuaded him to go, effectively escorting him to the Senate house. He also skillfully diverted Mark Antony, who might have tried to warn Caesar of the impending assassination, ensuring Caesar arrived at the appointed place vulnerable and without his usual retinue.

Once inside, after the initial attack by Servilius Casca, Decimus Brutus and the other conspirators joined in, stabbing Caesar multiple times. Tradition holds that Caesar suffered approximately 23 stab wounds. According to Nicolaus of Damascus, Decimus himself struck Caesar through the thigh. Japanese sources suggest he was the eighth to stab Caesar. Caesar ultimately collapsed and died on the spot, wrapped in his toga.

5.1. Conflict in Cisalpine Gaul

Immediately after Caesar's death, the assassins received an amnesty from the Senate, largely at the instigation of Mark Antony, who was Caesar's co-consul. However, this peace was fragile. The Roman populace and Caesar's veteran legionaries were outraged and demanded the conspirators' punishment, forcing Decimus and his co-conspirators to lie low. Decimus used his position as Praetor Peregrinus to distance himself from Rome's volatile political climate.

The fragile reconciliation quickly dissolved. By March 44 BC, Antony began to oppose Decimus Brutus's earlier allocation of the province of Cisalpine Gaul. Despite this, by the autumn, Decimus Brutus had already moved to Cisalpine Gaul and was campaigning against local tribes as its propraetor, commanding his own troops. The Senate, influenced by Cicero (who penned his famous Philippicae during this period), eventually ordered Decimus to surrender the province to Antony. Decimus refused, an act of defiance that Antony eagerly used as a pretext for war. For Antony, gaining control of Cisalpine Gaul was strategically vital for his ascent to power, while Cicero saw Decimus as a crucial instrument to destroy Antony and restore the Republic.

In 43 BC, Decimus Brutus fortified himself in the city of Mutina (modern-day Modena) and prepared for a prolonged siege. Antony promptly blockaded the city, aiming to starve out Decimus's forces. The consuls of that year, Aulus Hirtius and Gaius Pansa, marched north to lift the siege. They were accompanied by Caesar Octavian, Caesar's nineteen-year-old adopted heir, who had already been granted propraetorian rank.

The first major engagement, the Battle of Forum Gallorum, occurred on April 14. Antony initially defeated the forces of Gaius Pansa and Octavian, resulting in Pansa suffering mortal wounds. However, Antony was then surprised and defeated by a counterattack from Hirtius. A second battle on April 21 at Mutina resulted in another defeat for Antony and the death of Hirtius. Antony was forced to withdraw, unwilling to be subjected to a double circumvallation as Vercingetorix had been by Caesar at Alesia.

Although the siege was lifted, Octavian's response to Decimus Brutus was cold. Decimus cautiously offered his thanks from across the river, but Octavian made it clear that his objective was to oppose Antony, not to aid Caesar's assassins. Although Decimus Brutus was formally given command to wage war against Antony, his political isolation grew, and many of his soldiers, unwilling to serve under Caesar's assassin, deserted to Octavian.

5.2. Flight and Execution

With Cicero's continued support, Decimus Brutus attempted to salvage his position by crossing the Alps to join Lucius Munatius Plancus in a renewed campaign against Antony. However, Plancus dramatically switched his allegiance to Antony, rendering Decimus's position untenable and forcing him into desperate flight. His ultimate goal was to reach Macedonia, where Marcus Junius Brutus and Cassius had established their forces.

His escape attempt proved futile. In mid-September 43 BC, while en route, Decimus Brutus was captured by a Gallic chief who was loyal to Mark Antony. He was subsequently executed under Antony's orders. This made him the first of Caesar's fourteen assassins to meet his end, marking a grim turning point in the civil wars that followed. Several letters written by Decimus Brutus during the final two years of his life are still preserved among Cicero's collected correspondence, offering rare insights into his thoughts during this tumultuous period.

6.1. Historical Assessment and Confusion

Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus's historical legacy is often overshadowed by and frequently confused with that of his more famous distant cousin, Marcus Junius Brutus. This confusion has led to Decimus being merged with or misidentified as Marcus in various historical accounts and cultural depictions.

One of the most enduring historical debates surrounding Decimus Brutus concerns Caesar's final words, famously dramatized as "Et tu, Brute?" in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. While this phrase is commonly attributed to Marcus Brutus, many researchers and historians argue that it might have, in fact, been directed at Decimus Brutus. This alternative theory posits that since Marcus Brutus had previously been an enemy of Caesar, his betrayal, though significant, might have been less shocking than that of Decimus, whom Caesar had consistently treated as a beloved son and confidant, and whom he had designated as an heir. The unexpected participation of such a trusted individual in the assassination would have been a profound and devastating betrayal for Caesar. Some ancient sources, such as Suetonius in his Lives of the Caesars, mention Caesar speaking the Greek phrase "καὶ σὺ τέκνον_{kai su teknon}^{Greek, Ancient}" ("You too, child?") to Marcus Brutus, while Plutarch offers no specific last words for Caesar. However, the emotional impact and the depth of betrayal implied by the phrase align more powerfully with Caesar's relationship with Decimus Brutus, as suggested by authors like Shiono Nanami.

6.2. Cultural Depictions

Decimus Brutus has been featured in various works of literature and theatre, though often with historical inaccuracies, particularly regarding his name and role.

In Shakespeare's iconic play Julius Caesar, Decimus Brutus is mistakenly referred to as "Decius Brutus." This misnomer has persisted in other works, such as Joseph Addison's play Cato, a Tragedy, where he also appears as "Decius." However, in The Tragedy of Cicero, he is correctly identified by his actual name. The misidentification of Decimus as "Decius" also appears in some historical narratives, such as Shiono Nanami's Roman History.

In modern literature, Decimus Brutus plays a more nuanced role:

• In Allan Massie's 1993 novel Caesar, Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus narrates his own story, recounting his reasons for joining Caesar's assassination while held captive by a Gallic chief.
• Colleen McCullough's novels Caesar and The October Horse, part of her Masters of Rome series, portray Decimus Brutus as a significant character, even suggesting that he and Gaius Trebonius were the true masterminds behind the assassination conspiracy.
• Conn Iggulden's Emperor series simplifies the narrative by blending the historical figures of Decimus Brutus and Marcus Brutus into a single character named Marcus Brutus.
• In Ben Kane's books The Forgotten Legion, The Silver Eagle, and Road To Rome, Decimus Brutus is a major character, depicted as Fabiola's lover.
• Robert Harris' novel Dictator explicitly attributes Caesar's accusatory last words, "Even you?" to Decimus, rather than Marcus Brutus, aligning with the theory of deeper personal betrayal.
• In S.J.A Turney's Marius Mules series of novels, Decimus Brutus is prominently featured as a brilliant naval commander and one of Caesar's most loyal officers, highlighting his pre-assassination relationship with Caesar.