[broo-tuh
s] 
| Marcus Jun⋅ius [joon-yuhs] , 85?–42 b.c., Roman provincial administrator: one of the assassins of Julius Caesar. |
| Bru·tus (brōō'təs) Roman politician and general who conspired to assassinate Julius Caesar. In the subsequent power struggle with Mark Antony and Octavian, Brutus was defeated at the Battle of Philippi and committed suicide. |
An ancient Roman politician who helped assassinate his friend Julius Caesar.
Note: Brutus is a leading character in the play Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare.
Note: Caesar is said to have addressed Brutus with the words Et tu, Brute? (“Even you, Brutus?”) as Brutus stabbed him. This sentence has become a proverbial response to betrayal.