Titus Junius Brutus

The Lictors Bring Home the Sons of Brutus by Jacques-Louis David (1784)

Titus Junius Brutus (died c. 509 BC) was the elder son of Lucius Junius Brutus, who was one of Rome's first two consuls in 509 BC.His mother was Vitellia.

At the invitation of his uncles, called Vitellii, he and his younger brother Tiberius Junius Brutus joined the Tarquinian conspiracy. When the conspiracy was discovered, he and the other conspirators were executed by order of the consuls.Punishment was carried out by the lictors, and included being stripped naked, beaten with rods and then beheaded. Lucius Junius Brutus was admired for his strong stance in ordering the execution of his sons, although at times during the execution he showed his emotions.

• Livy, Ab urbe condita, 2.4-5