Lucius brutus. Meaning of brutus, lucius junius in the collier dictionary. Lucius Junius Brutus

Why was Lucius Junius called Brutus? Lucius Junius Brutus - the founder of the Roman Republic, the nephew (son of the sister) of the last Roman king Tarquinius the Proud. Knowing about the treachery of the king, who destroyed many aristocrats, Lucius Junius pretended to be lazy and weak-minded than

Brutus, Lucius Junius

Brutus, Lucius Junius In ancient Roman mythology (Brutus) - the son of Mark Junius and the daughter of Tarquinius the Ancient. Tradition says that during the persecution of Tarquinius the Proud, who tried to exterminate all members of the Juniev family as a result of their claims to the throne, Lucius Junius was saved only by

Lucius Junius Brutus, who belonged to the ancient plebeian family Juniev, was the nephew (son of a sister) of Tsar Tarquinius the Proud. During the mass repressions, Tarquinia managed to "hide the natural mind under a pleasant guise", and thus avoid the fate of relatives and influential members of the nobility. The very nickname Brutus (Brutus) means Stupid.

A legend is associated with the name of Brutus. An embassy was sent to Delphi from King Tarquinius to interpret the unfortunate sign in the king's house. The ambassadors were the king's sons Titus and Arrunt, and accompanying them was Brutus, who, as a gift to Apollo, presented a golden rod hidden inside a horn one - an allegorical image of his mind. After fulfilling the royal commission, the young men asked the oracle who would be the next king, to which they received the answer: “The one who kisses his mother first will receive the supreme power in Rome.” Brutus correctly interpreted the prophecy and, pretending to have stumbled, pressed his lips to the ground.

Some time after this embassy, ​​it happened that the prince Sextus Tarquinius dishonored the wife of his relative Tarquinius Collatinus Lucretia, daughter of Spurius Lucretius Tricipitina. Lucretia told her husband, father, as well as their companions Junius Brutus and Publius Valerius about what had happened, after which, unable to bear the shame, she committed suicide. This event angered the inhabitants of Collatium, prompting them to revolt. That same night, the excitement spread to Rome, where, prompted by the fiery speeches of Brutus, the people deposed the king, who at that time was with the army besieging the Rutul city of Ardea. The army also went over to the rebels and Tsar Tarquinius and his sons were expelled. The first consuls in 509 BC. e. Lucius Junius Brutus and Tarquinius Collatinus were elected.

In the same year, a pro-tsarist conspiracy arose in Rome with the support of the Tarquins. The number of conspirators included noble youths, including the sons of Brutus Titus and Tiberius. However, one of the slaves denounced the conspirators to the consuls, in connection with which they were captured and executed.

In the autumn, Tarquinius, with the support of the Etruscan cities of Veii and Tarquinia, gathered an army and went to Rome. They were opposed by the consuls Lucius Junius and Publius Valerius (Collatin had by that time been expelled from the city due to family ties with the king). In a skirmish between the advanced cavalry units, Junius Brutus killed Arrunt Tarquinius, but he himself fell. The infantry arrived in time under the command of Valerius scattered the army of the Veyans and forced the Tarquinians to retreat.

Notes

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• Died in 509 B.C. e.
• Roman consuls of the 6th century BC. e.
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According to Roman tradition, the patrician, who led the uprising against Tarquinius the Proud and established in 510 509 BC. e. republican system in ancient Rome, one of the first consuls (together with Tarquinius Collatinus). * * * BRUTUS Lucius Junius BRUTUS Lucius… … encyclopedic Dictionary

Brutus, Lucius Junius- According to Roman tradition, detailed by Livy, the legendary founder of the Roman Republic. He led the Romans to Etruria to overthrow the Roman king Tarquinius the Proud, where he had fled with his family after his son dishonored Lucretia. After … Antique world. Dictionary reference.

Brutus \ Lucius \ Junius Dictionary-reference book on Ancient Greece and Rome, on mythology

Brutus Lucius Junius- According to Roman tradition, detailed by Livy, the legendary founder of the Roman Republic. He led the Romans to Etruria to overthrow the Roman king Tarquinius the Proud, where he had fled with his family after his son dishonored Lucretia. After… … List of ancient Greek names

According to Roman tradition, the patrician, who led the uprising against Tarquinius the Proud and established in 510 509 BC. e. republican system in Rome, one of the first consuls (together with Tarquinius Collatinus) ...

- (Lucius Junius Brutus), according to ancient Roman tradition, a patrician who led in 509 BC. e. the uprising of the Romans against the Etruscan ruler Tarquinius the Proud and founded the republican system in Rome. He was one of the first (together with Tarquinius ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

Brutus (Brutus) Lucius Junius, according to Roman tradition, a patrician who led an uprising against Tarquinius the Proud and established in 510 509 BC. e. republican system in Rome, one of the first consuls (together with Tarquinius Collatinus) ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Brutus Lucius Junius- Brutus Lucius Junius, according to Rome. According to legend, a patrician who led an uprising against Tarquinius the Proud and established in 510509 BC. e. rep. build in Rome, one of the first consuls (together with Tarquinius Collatinus) ... Biographical Dictionary

- (Lucius Iunius Brutus), according to Roman tradition, the founder of the republican system in Rome (509 BC). Brutus destroyed the royal power by expelling his uncle Tarquinius the Proud. According to legend, Brutus, who served as a stableman at the court of Tarquinius, and Tarquinius ... ... Collier Encyclopedia

Lucius Junius Brutus LUCIUS JUNIUS BRUTUS Bust of Brutus (Brutus Capitoline) Birth name: Lucius Junius ... Wikipedia

The Romans considered Lucius Junius Brutus the founder of the Roman Republic and the main initiator of the expulsion of the Tarquins. The legend about the expulsion of the kings and about the personality of Brutus, of course, cannot claim to be historic, like all Roman history up to the time of the Decemvirs. It is simply not possible to separate such legends from the truth with complete certainty. And so it remains only to follow the tradition.

The Brutus family belonged to the patrician class and was one of the noblest in Rome. It was produced from one Trojan, who allegedly arrived in Rome with Aeneas. Brutus' father was Mark Junius, a respectable man married to Tarquinia, one of the sisters of King Tarquinius the Proud. The despot king ordered his death shortly after the assassination of Servius in order to take possession of his wealth. And in order to protect himself from blood vengeance, he took the life of his eldest son, Mark. The youngest son, Lucius, was spared by Tarquinius, because he was still a child and seemed safe, and Lucius grew up in Tarquinius' house with his own sons. The fate of his relatives did not remain a secret from the young Lucius, and in order to avoid the same fate, he put all his property at the disposal of Tarquinius, pretended to be half-mad and played his role so skillfully that he was nicknamed Brutus in mockery, i.e. idiot. So he secured himself with contempt where it was impossible to defend himself with justice, and began to patiently wait for an opportunity to avenge himself.

Bad dreams and ominous signs for some time began to foretell the imminent misfortune of the king. The kites destroyed the eagle's nest near the royal palace, killed the young eaglets and drove away the father and mother who returned home; the snake took the bulls from the king, which he prepared for sacrifice to the gods; the plague began to kill mothers and infants. The king began to fear for his house and decided to question the most famous oracle - the Delphic one. And since he did not dare to entrust the answer of God concerning his family to an outsider, he sent his two sons, Titus and Aruns, to Greece. And so that they would not be bored, he sent Lucius Junius with them as a jester. Arriving in Delphi, the royal children brought precious gifts to the god Apollo, Brutus gave him only his travel stick. But this stick was hollowed out inside and contained another stick, a golden one - the secret symbol of his mind. Having fulfilled the order of their father, the princes asked the oracle which of them would get to reign in Rome. The answer was: “The one of you, oh young men, who first kisses his mother will become the main ruler”. Both Tarquinias agreed to keep the words of the oracle secret so that their brother Sextus, who remained at home, would not get ahead of them. As for themselves, they left it to fate to decide which of the two of them would be the first to kiss their mother. Clever Brutus, having understood the deeper meaning of the oracle's saying, was ahead of them so that they did not understand it - he, as if stumbling, fell and kissed the earth, the common mother of all mortals.

At the time when they returned to Rome, there were preparations for war with Ardea, the Rutulian city, whose riches had long attracted Tsar Tarquinius. The capture of this heavily fortified city, which stood on a high steep cliff, was not an easy task and required a long siege. While the Roman army was encamped near Ardea, the sons of the king feasted in the tent of Sextus Tarquinius, where their relative Lucius Tarquinius, called Collatinus, from the city of Collatia, in which his father Egerius was governor, was also located. The conversation of young people turned to their wives, and each praised his own as superior to all others. "In this case,- finally exclaimed Collatin, - let's get on horses now, and I hope to convince you clearly that all your wives must yield to my Lucretia. "So be it!" the others exclaimed. And so, flushed with wine, they rushed on horseback, first to Rome, where they found the wives of the princes at a sumptuous supper, and from there to Collatia. It was already very late, but Lucretia was still sitting in the circle of her girls and spinning. She got the victory.

But the beauty aroused vile plans in Sextus Tarquinia, and a few days later he, accompanied by one slave, hurried to Collation and, with the help of violence, threats, and a drawn sword, forced Lucretia to yield to his criminal impulses. Lucretia, full of grief and indignation, immediately sent one ambassador to Rome to her father Spurius Lucretius, and another to Ardea to her husband with a request that they come to her as soon as possible and that each take a faithful friend with him, since a terrible misfortune happened.

Lucretius arrived with Publius Valerius, and Collatinus with Lucius Junius Brutus. They found Lucrezia in the bedroom in the deepest sadness. She told them about the atrocity of Sextus Tarquinius, announced that she would die, and demanded that they punish the criminal. They all gave her their word and tried to comfort her, but she did not accept consolations. "You take care- she said, - so that the culprit of this case receives a worthy retribution; I, although I confess myself innocent, do not want to escape punishment; let not a single woman after me, referring to Lucretius, remain alive with the loss of chastity ”. With these words, she plunged the dagger hidden under her dress into her chest, and fell dead.

While everyone present was still overcome with grief, Brutus drew the bloody dagger from Lucretia's chest and said: “By this pure and sacred blood, I swear and call you, gods, as witnesses, that I will, with fire and sword, and by all means possible for me, persecute the arrogant villain Lucius Tarquinius with his godless wife and all the children of his tribe and will not tolerate that they, or anyone else were kings in Rome." After that, he handed the dagger to Collatinus, Lucretia and Valeria, who looked with amazement at the new Brutus. They repeated the oath dictated to them by Brutus, carried the corpse of Lucretia to the city market and began to call on the people to revolt. All the citizens took up arms, closed the city gates, and Brutus led the youth to Rome. Here, as the head of the horsemen, he convened a popular assembly and, with a fiery speech about the heinous violence of Sextus Tarquinius, the cruelty of the king and the disaster of the people, caused the citizens to decide to take away power from Tarquinius and expel him from Rome along with his entire family. After that, Brutus armed and prepared for battle all the people capable of military service who voluntarily offered their services, and went with them to the Ardean camp in order to excite the army there against the king. During this revolt, Tullia, the hated queen, fled the city with a small retinue, accompanied by the curses of the excited crowd.

The army that stood before Ardea greeted Brutus with enthusiasm and joined in the people's decision. The king, having received news of what was happening in Rome, hurried there from the camp. He found the gates of the city locked and heard of his exile. I had to submit to fate and with my two eldest sons go as an exile to the Etruscan land. Sextus Tarquinius moved to Gabia, a city previously given to him in full ownership, where he was killed for his past crimes by embittered residents.

After the expulsion of the king, the leaders of the uprising set about establishing a new order in the state and establishing a new government. The king's place was now to be taken by two consuls, rotated annually, with the same power and the same military and political rights as the kings enjoyed. But the annual change and division of power between two persons protected the state from the danger of despotic domination. Only the priestly rights that were with the kings were transferred to a dignitary, called "rex sacrificulus" or "rex sacrorum". The first consuls elected in the centuriate comitia were Junius Brutus and Tarquinius Collatinus.

Consul Brutus, as guardian of the new freedom, showed the same energy as he distinguished himself as its founder. First, he bound the people with an oath never in the future to allow kings to appear in Rome. Secondly, the state structure of Servius Tullius was restored, along with all the other laws of this king. The senate, which had been greatly reduced under Tarquinius, was again reduced to 300 members by the admission of noble plebeians into its ranks.

The people were so concerned about the preservation of their young freedom that the consul Tarquinius Collatinus, despite the fact that his thoughts and actions were impeccable, aroused suspicion by his very name. The Tarquinii, said the people, had not learned to live the life of honest people, their name arouses suspicion, it is dangerous to freedom; as long as there is at least one Tarquinius in the city, one cannot vouch for freedom, and here even the government is in the hands of Tarquinius. When Brutus noticed these suspicious doubts of the citizens, he convened a popular assembly and, having read aloud the oath of the people that this latter would not tolerate any king in the city and in general no power from which any danger could threaten the people, he turned to his comrade with a request that he voluntarily retire and thereby save the citizens from the anxious feeling aroused in them by the presence in the city of the royal name of Tarquinius. For the consul, this proposal was so unexpected that he was at first speechless with amazement. When he wanted to object, the first dignitaries of the state surrounded him with urgent requests to bring this sacrifice to the fatherland. Even his father-in-law, old Spurius Lucretius, warmly joined in these requests. But since Collatinus hesitated to submit to the will of the people, Brutus deprived him of his office by the decision of the people's assembly, and the former people's consul went with his property to Lavinium. Following this, Brutus achieved another popular decision - that the entire generation of Tarquins be expelled from the boundaries of the Roman state. In place of Collatinus, Brutus chose Publius Valerius as his comrade, and the people approved this election.

King Tarquinius did not want to give up so easily and began to think of ways to return to the city again. First, there was a trick. He sent ambassadors to Rome with instructions (without mentioning his desire to return) to demand the extradition of his property. While the senate was deliberating on this matter, the ambassadors entered into relations with some noble citizens, with the aim of overthrowing the new order of things and returning the royal family to Rome. The Vitellii brothers and the Aquillia brothers became the main ones. The former were close relatives of Brutus, who was married to their sister Vitellia. The Aquillii were nephews of the consul Collatinus. Through the efforts of these people, a significant number of noble youth were also involved in the conspiracy, friendly with the sons of Tarquinius and longing for the return of their former cheerful life. Even the sons of Brutus, Titus and Tiberius, took part in criminal designs.

Meanwhile, in the senate, it was decided to give Tarquinius his property, and the envoys took advantage of the period provided to them by the consuls for receiving this property, in order to conduct further negotiations with the conspirators. On the eve of their departure, they had gathered together for supper at the Vitellii house, and talked at great length about the plan they had made, feeling quite safe. The envoys were also given letters from the conspirators to Tarquinius. But one slave, named Vindicius, heard everything and saw the transmission of letters. He immediately notified both consuls of everything. The consuls arrested the envoys and conspirators, and since the letters found confirmed the testimony of the slave, the traitors were immediately put in chains. Nevertheless, the envoys were released from the city, but the royal property was not returned. The Senate gave this property to the plunder of the people so that, having become a participant in the robbery of the royal family, they would lose all hope of ever reconciling with it.

The field between the Capitol and the Tiber, which belonged to Tarquinius, was dedicated to the god Mars and has since been called the Field of Mars (campus Marcius). This field was covered with bread ready for harvest, but the people were afraid to take the fruits of the land dedicated to God, and the ears were thrown into the river. All this mass remained in the water. Subsequently, silt stuck to it in large quantities, and from all this the sacred island of the Tiber was formed, which was later connected to the city by bridges and decorated with temples, colonnades and public gardens.

The plunder of the royal property was followed by the accusation and execution of the traitors. The Senate and all the people gathered in the square. The two consuls sat in their judicial chairs. The conspirators, among whom were the sons of Brutus, stood tied to the poles, awaiting the sentence of Brutus, since he presided over the court that day. In Brutus lived such a truly Roman spirit, such as was not in any of his fellow citizens. The crime of his sons was obvious and they themselves did not deny their guilt. There was no choice left. "Lictors, Brutus said, do your duty". And the lictors seized the young men, tore off their clothes, tied their hands on their backs and began to beat them with rods, after which they threw them to the ground and cut off their heads with axes. Brutus sat motionless in his judge's chair and, without outward signs of grief, watched as his sons, who were the only hope of his house, bled to death. Then, covering his head and face, he left the place of execution. What was dearest to him in the world, he sacrificed to freedom and the fatherland. The rest of the conspirators were condemned to death by the people gathered in the square. After this, the slave who discovered the plot was solemnly declared free and given all the rights of a Roman citizen.

Tarquinius, seeing that the cunning and betrayal had failed him, decided to regain power by force of arms. He began to travel around the cities of Etruria and ask for help. The inhabitants of the cities of Tarquinii and Vei gathered an army for him in the hope of avenging the many defeats they had suffered in former times from the Roman people. Towards them moved the Roman army under the command of both consuls. Valery led the infantry, arranged in a quadrangle, and in front, at the head of the cavalry, was Brutus. The enemy army moved in exactly the same way - Aruns Tarquinius made up the vanguard with the cavalry, and Tsar Tarquin followed him with the infantry. As soon as Aruns saw his mortal enemy at the head of the enemy cavalry, he exclaimed in great anger: “Here he is, the man who expelled us from the fatherland! See how arrogantly he gallops on a horse, adorned with our insignia! O gods, protectors of kings, help me!" With these words, he rushed straight at the consul. Brutus realized that it was about him, and, inflamed with the same hatred, rushed into battle. In a fit of anger, none of them thought about self-preservation - everyone only wanted to hit the enemy. They collided with all their might, pierced each other's shield and chest with a spear, and both fell dead from their horses. This was followed by a bloody battle between cavalry and infantry. Victory leaned first to one side, then to the other, until the storm parted the embittered troops. Each of them withdrew to their own camp, not knowing who had won. As night fell, silence settled in both camps. But suddenly a noise arose in the Arsian forest and a loud voice announced that one more man had died in the battle on the side of the Etruscans than on the Romans, and that the Romans had thus won. It was the voice of the forest god Silvanus, who had the ability to plunge the bravest army into panic horror. Fear seized the Etruscans to such an extent that they quickly left their camp and fled. The Romans pursued them with triumphant shouts, took no less than five thousand prisoners and took possession of the rich booty left in the camp.

Valerius returned to Rome with a victorious army, but the Romans were not pleased with the victory, bought at the cost of the life of Brutus, the father of their freedom. The corpse of Brutus was buried with great solemnity, and the consul Valerius delivered a eulogy over it. Roman matrons mourned him for a whole year as an avenger for the offended honor of a woman. The memory of Brutus was always honored by the Romans as the memory of the founder of Roman freedom, a man who, because of this freedom, did not spare the lives of his own children and fell in the battle for it. Grateful descendants erected an iron statue to him with a drawn sword in his hand and placed this statue in the Capitol between the images of the kings.

With the death of Lucius Junius Brutus, the patrician family of the Junievs ended, since both executed sons were his only children. Caesar's murderer, Marcus Junius Brutus, was by birth a plebeian and therefore not a descendant of this ancient Brutus.

The youngest son of Mark Junius, a noble patrician, and Tarquinia, daughter of the fourth Roman king Tarquinius the Ancient. After in 534 BC. e. Tarquinius the Proud, who seized the royal power, killed his father and elder brother and confiscated property, Lucius feigned stupidity and was brought up with the sons of the king as their jester; from which he received the nickname Brutus ("stupid") (Cic. Brut. 53; Dion. Hal. IV. 68-69; 77. 3-4; Liv. I.; diode. X. 22; Plut. Popl. 3; Dio fr. 11.10; macrob. Sat. III. 20.5; De Vir. Ill. 10.1). Together with them he went to Greece to the Delphic oracle and the only one who correctly understood his prediction: the power will go to the one who kisses his mother first: Brutus kissed the earth (Cic. Brut. 53; Liv. I.; Dion. Hal. IV. 69; Ovid. Fast. ; Dio Fr. 11.10-12; De Vir. Ill. 10.2-3).

When in 509 BC. e. Sextus Tarquinius, son of the king, raped Lucretia, and she committed suicide, Brutus called the Romans to revolt, and the people issued a decree on the expulsion of Tarquinius; after that, Brutus recruited an army and went to the king's camp near Ardea to rebel the army stationed there ( Rhet. ad Herenn. IV. 66; cic. Rep. II. 46; De Or. I. 37; II. 225; Brut. 53; Fin. II. 66; planc. 60; Phil. I. 13; II. 26; 114; III. 9; eleven; Liv. ; Dion. Hal. IV. 67; 70-85; Ovid. Fast. ; Val. Max. V.8.1; Sen. Cons. ad Marc. 16.2; Suet. ; Plut. Brut. one; Dio fr. 11. 13-19; Eutrop. I.8.2; De Vir. Ill. 10.4-5; Hieron. Adv. Iovin. I.p. 192; RRC. 433/2) In 509 Brutus was elected first Roman consul together with Tarquinius Collatinus (Polyb. III.22.1; Cic. Brut. 53; Liv. I.; II. ; IV. 15.3; Dion. Hal. IV. 76; 84.4; Val. Max. IV. 4.1; plin. NH. XXXVI. 24.112; Tac. Ann. ; ; Suet. ; Plut. Popl. one; Dio fr. 12.1; Eutrop. I.9.2; De Vir. Ill. 10.5; oros. II. 5.1; Chron. 354; Chron. IDAT.; Chron. Pasch.; RRC 433/1; 506/1).

He founded the custom of taking auspices before taking office, of passing the curate law, and of alternating the consular fasces (Val. Max. IV.4.1; Tac. Ann. ; Liv. II. ). On June 1 he made a sacrifice to the goddess Karna in memory of the expulsion of the kings, as a result of which the month was named after him (Macrob. Sat. I.12.31). He brought the citizens to an oath that they would no longer tolerate royal power; increased the size of the senate to 300 (Liv. II.; Dion. Hal. V. 13.2; Tac. Ann. ; Serv. Aen. I. 426). Established the priestly office of the king of sacred rites (Liv. II.; Dion. Hal. V. 1.4) and the Feast of the Compitalium (Macrob. Sat. I. 7. 34-35). Executed his sons, convicted of plotting to return Tarquinius (Liv.; IV.15.3; VIII.34.3; Propert. IV.I.45; Dion. Hal. V.6-12; Val. Max. V 8.1 Plut. Popl. 4- 6; Brut. one; Flor. I.; Dio fr. 12.1; XLIV. 12.1; De Vir. Ill. 10.5; Ampel. 18.1; oros. II. 5.1). Removed from power his colleague Collatinus, suspected of sympathizing with the Tarquinians because of his relationship with them, and passed a law on the expulsion of all Tarquinians (Cic. Rep. II. 46; 53; Brut. 53; Off. III. 40; Liv. II. ; IV. 15.4; Dion. Hal. V. 10-12; 19; Plut. Popl. 4-7; Gel. XV. 29; Eutrop. I.9.3; Obseq. 70). In his consulate, the first treaty between Rome and Carthage was concluded (Polyb. III. 22. 1). He waged war against the Etruscans, who supported the exiled Tarquinius, and died in a duel with his son Arrunt (Cic. Tusk. I. 89; IV. fifty; cat. 75; Liv. II. ; Dion. Hal. v. 15-17; Val. Max. V.6.1; Plut. Popl. 9; Flor. I.; Sil. ital. XIII. 721; Eutrop. I.10.1; oros. II. 5.2; De Vir. Ill. 10.6). Buried with honors at public expense (Liv. II.; Dion. Hal. V. 17; Dio fr. 13. 1).

One of the founders of the Roman Republic. He died in the legendary battle near the Arsian Forest.

Lucius Junius Brutus

545 BC e. - February 28, 509 BC e.

lat. Lucius Iunius Brutus

Oath of Brutus. Henri Pinta (1884)

Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. Death of Consul Brutus, 1728/30. Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna

Lucius Junius Brutus belonged to an ancient family Yuniev, was the nephew of the Roman king - his mother Tarquinia was a sister. , who seized royal power, during mass repressions killed his father in order to take possession of his wealth, and then, in order to protect himself from blood vengeance, he deprived his eldest son of life, brand . The younger son lucia, spared, because he was still a child, and did not seem dangerous to him. Lucius Junius Brutus, having given all his property at his disposal, he managed to “hide the natural mind under the accepted guise” (feigned stupidity and was brought up together with the sons of the king as their jester; hence he received the nickname brutus(lat. Brutus - stupid)). Thus, he escaped the fate of relatives and other representatives of the nobility.

With name brutus bind legend. Bad dreams and ominous signs for some time began to foretell the imminent misfortune of the king. An embassy was sent to Delphi from the king to interpret the unfortunate sign in the king's house. The sons of the king were ambassadors Titus and Arrunt , and so that they do not get bored, he accompanied them as a jester brutus. Arriving in Delphi, the royal children brought precious gifts to the god Apollo, brutus I gave him only my traveling stick. But this stick was hollowed out inside and contained another stick, a golden one - the secret symbol of his mind. Having fulfilled the order of their father, the princes asked the oracle which of them would get power in Rome. The answer was this: “The one of you, oh young men, who first kisses his mother will become the main ruler.” Both Tarquinia agreed to keep secret the words of the oracle so that their brother Sextus , who stayed at home, did not get ahead of them. As for themselves, they left it to fate to decide which of the two of them would be the first to kiss their mother. brutus, understanding the deeper meaning of the saying of the oracle, ahead of them so that they did not understand it - he, as if stumbling, fell and kissed the earth, the common mother of all mortals.

Then they returned to Rome. It was 509 BC. e. and there were preparations for a war with the Rutul city of Ardea, whose riches had long attracted the king. The city was strongly fortified and stood on a high steep cliff, so its capture required a long siege. While the Roman army camped near Ardea, the sons of the king feasted in a tent Sexta Tarquinia , where there was also their relative, nicknamed , from the city of Collation, in which his father Egerius was the governor.

The conversation of young people turned to their wives, and each praised his own as superior to all others. “In that case,” he exclaimed at last, “we will now sit on horses, and I hope to convince you clearly that all your wives must yield to my Lucretia.” The rest agreed, and now, flushed with wine, they rushed on horseback, first to Rome, where they found the wives of the princes at a sumptuous supper, and from there to Collatia. It was already very late, but Lucrezia still sat in the circle of her girls and spun. She got the victory.

Beauty liked Sextus Tarquinius and a few days later he, accompanied by one slave, hurried to Kollatia and, with the help of violence and threats, raped Lucretia . Indignant and grieving, she sent an ambassador to Rome to her father Spuria Lucretia , and the other - to Ardea to her husband with a request that they come to her as soon as possible and that each take a faithful friend with them.

Lucretius came from Publius Valery , a - c Lucius Junius Brutus. Lucrezia was in the deepest sorrow, and telling them about the atrocity Sexta Tarquinia , announced that she would die, and demanded that they punish the criminal. They all gave her their word, but she plunged the dagger hidden under her dress into her chest, and fell dead. Her last words were: “Let not a single woman after me, referring to Lucretia , does not survive the loss of chastity.

brutus pulled the bloodied dagger from his chest Lucrezia and vowed that he would "by fire and sword and by all means possible for me to pursue the arrogant villain with his godless wife and all the children of his tribe and will not tolerate that they, or anyone else, should be kings in Rome." All those present supported him and repeated the oath, then they carried out the corpse Lucrezia to the city market and began to call on the people to revolt. Citizens took up arms, closed the city gates and brutus led the youth to Rome. Here, in his capacity as commander of the horsemen, he called a meeting of the people and with a fiery speech about vile violence Sexta Tarquinia , the cruelty of the king and the disaster of the people caused in the citizens the decision to take away power and expel him from Rome, along with his entire family. Then brutus armed volunteers and went with them to the Ardean camp, in order to raise an army there against the king. At that time Tullia , the hated queen, fled the city with a small retinue, accompanied by the curses of the excited crowd.

The royal army, stationed near Ardea, joined the popular uprising, and the king, having received news of what was happening in Rome, hastened there from the camp. But the gates of the city turned out to be locked for him and he had to submit and go into exile in the Etruscan land with his two eldest sons. Sextus Tarquinius moved to Gabia, a city previously given to him in full ownership.

After the expulsion of the king, it was decided that the place of the king should now be occupied by two annually replaced consuls, invested with the same power and the same military and political rights that the kings enjoyed. But the annual change and division of power between two persons protected the state from the danger of despotic domination. Only the priestly rights that were with the kings were transferred to a dignitary called rex sacrorum.

In 509 B.C. e. brutus and were elected the first Roman consuls. brutus swore the citizens that they would no longer tolerate royal power, again increased the number of senators to 300 people by accepting noble plebeians into their ranks, restored the state system Servia Tullia along with all the other laws of this king.

But he didn't want to give up. He sent ambassadors to Rome with instructions to demand the extradition of his personal property. While the senate was deliberating on this matter, the ambassadors found supporters in some noble houses with the aim of overthrowing the new order and returning the royal family to Rome. Brothers became the main conspirators Vitellia (brothers of the consul's wife brutus) and brothers Aquillia (nephews of the consul). Through the efforts of these people, a significant number of noble youth were also involved in the conspiracy, friendly with their sons and longing for the return of their former cheerful life. Even sons brutus, Titus and Tiberius have taken part in criminal activities.

But one slave, named Vindicius learned of the impending conspiracy. He was afraid to inform the consuls about him, since among the conspirators were relatives and brutus but revealed the secret Publius Valery Publicole . Publius Valery with brother Mark Valery with the help of clients and slaves, they seized the conspirators and found letters from them to the king. The conspirators were brought before the consuls. brutus ordered the execution of his sons, after which he gave the right to judge the rest of the conspirators to the second consul and left. could not make such a harsh decision regarding his relatives and sympathized with them. Those, in turn, sensing the weakness of the consul, demanded the return of the slave and release them. This was opposed Publius Valery . Returned to court brutus after which all the conspirators were executed. Vindicius became the first slave to be set free.

The envoys were released from the city, but the royal property was not returned - the senate gave this property to the people.

The consul aroused the suspicion of the citizens by his very name. brutus, noticing the doubts of the citizens, convened a people's assembly and turned to his comrade with a request that he voluntarily retire and thereby save the citizens from the anxious feeling aroused in them by the presence of the royal name in the city Tarquiniev . But since he hesitated to submit to the will of the people, then brutus deprived him of his post by the decision of the people's assembly and the former people's consul went with his property to Lavinium. It was also decided to expel all Tarquiniev outside the Roman state. into place brutus chose as a comrade Publius Valeria and the people confirmed this election.

After the expulsion from Rome, his sons went to ask for help from the Etruscans. Veii and Tarquinia provided them with an army, mercenaries were recruited in other cities, and the former king set out on a campaign against Rome. Consuls brutus and Publicola crossed the Tiber and met the royal army on the Nevi meadow, next to an oak grove. According to Plutarch , the legendary battle near the Arsian forest, considered the first battle of the Roman Republic, took place on the eve of the March calends, that is, on the last day of the month of purification (February 28). In the skirmish of the advanced cavalry detachments Junius Brutus killed Arrunta Tarquinia but he also died.

Publicola commanded the right wing, which stood opposite the Veyent, and brutus- left - opposite the Tarquinians, commanded by the king's sons. The right flank of the Romans overturned the Veyentae, but Titus and Sextus of Tarquinia defeated the left flank and drove the Romans all the way to the camp. The fight ended in a draw, according to Plutarch , opponents divorced bad weather.

Back in Rome Publicola March 1, 509 BC e. celebrated a triumph, and, according to Plutarch , the first of the victors entered the city on a chariot drawn by four.

Memory brutus always revered by the Romans as the memory of the founder of Roman freedom, a man who, because of this freedom, did not spare the lives of his own children and fell in the battle for it. Grateful descendants erected an iron statue to him with a drawn sword in his hand and placed this statue in the Capitol between the images of the seven kings.

With death Lucius Junius Brutus the patrician race was cut short Yuniev, since both executed sons were his only children.

Mark Junius Brutus , killer Caesar , was not a descendant of this ancient brutus, and was generally a plebeian by birth.

brutus founded the customs of performing auspices before entering the office of consuls, the adoption and alternation of consular fascias (alternating stay of fascias, a symbol of power, with two consuls). The first treaty between Rome and Carthage was concluded in his consulate. It is believed that the month of June was named after him.