Definition:
Lucius Junius Brutus Basics | Brutus Details
According to Roman Republican legend, Lucius Junius Brutus (6th C. B.C.) was the nephew of the last Roman king Tarquinius Superbus, but despite the kinship, Brutus led the revolt against the king and proclaimed the Roman Republic in 509 B.C. Lucius Junius Brutus was one of the first set of Roman consuls. His other main claim to fame was his show of Roman virtue when he condemned his own sons to death for conspiracy.
The name (cognomen) Brutus means "dull" or "heavy" in Latin.
Source: T.J. Cornell, The Beginnings of Rome
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L. Junius Brutus is not to be confused with his descendant, Marcus Brutus, the first century B.C. statesman and favorite of Julius Caesar, made famous by the Shakespearean line "et tu Brute."
