BRUTUS ALBINUS, DECIMUS JUNIUS

died 43 BC Roman general who participated in the assassination of the dictator Julius Caesar, though he had been Caesar's protg. After serving under Caesar in Gaul, Brutus was given command of Caesar's fleet. In 49, during the Civil War between Caesar and Pompey, he led a fleet at the siege of Massilia (now Marseille, France). Caesar then made him governor of Transalpine Gaul (48) and nominated him as one of his heirs in the event of the death of his primary successor, Octavian (later the emperor Augustus). After taking part in the assassination of Caesar in March 44, Brutus left Rome to occupy Cisalpine Gaul for the republicans. Mark Antony besieged him at Mutina, but senatorial forces, supported by Octavian, relieved the siege in April 43. The Senate then gave Brutus the command against Antony. Brutus pursued Antony into Gallia Narbonensis but failed to bring him to battle. Deserted by his soldiers, he attempted to escape to Macedonia to join two other assassins, Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus. Brutus was captured, however, by a Gallic chieftain and put to death on Antony's orders.