Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Brutus, Lucius Junius

BRUTUS, LUCIUS JUNIUS, an ancient Roman hero, son of Marcus Junius, by the daughter of the elder Tarquin. He saved his life from the persecutions of Tarquin the Proud by feigning himself insane, whence his name Brutus (stupid). On the suicide of Lucretia, however, he threw off the mask, and headed the revolt against the Tarquins. Having secured their banishment, he proposed to abolish the regal dignity and introduce a free government, with the result that he was elected to the consulship, in which capacity he condemned his own sons to death for conspiring to restore the monarchy. He fell in battle 509 B. C.