Brutus is the cognomen of the Roman gens Junia, a prominent family of the Roman Republic. The plural of Brutus is Bruti, and the vocative form is Brute, as immortalized in the quotation "Et tu, Brute?", from Shakespeare's play, Julius Caesar.
Notable ancient Romans with this cognomen include:
- Lucius Junius Brutus — traditional founder of the Republic, whose sons were:
- Tiberius Junius Brutus — rebel.
- Titus Junius Brutus — rebel.
- Marcus Junius Brutus the Younger — Julius Caesar's friend and most famous assassin.
- Marcus Junius Brutus the Elder, the father of the aforementioned assassin.
- Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus — commander and another one of Caesar's assassins.
- Decimus Junius Brutus Callaicus — commander and consul of Hispania Ulterior from 138 BC to 136 BC.
Famous quotes containing the word brutus:
“Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest—
For Brutus is an honorable man;
So are they all, all honorable men -
Come I to speak in Caesar’s funeral.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“But Brutus says he was ambitious,
And Brutus is an honorable man.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)