markntony:marthajefferson:marthajefferson:history meme: 04/07 pairings |  B R U T U S   &   P O

markntony:marthajefferson:marthajefferson:history meme: 04/07 pairings |  B R U T U S   &   P O R T I AIn June 45 BC, Marcus Junius Brutus divorced his first wife Claudia (despite being the daughter of one of his best allies) and married Porcia -or Portia- Catonis, Cato’s daughter. The marriage caused a scandal as Brutus failed to state a valid reason for his divorce other than he ‘truly wished to marry Porcia’. Furthermore, it also caused a rift between Brutus and his mother, who resented the affection Brutus had for his new wife Porcia.She is depicted as being beautiful, full of an understanding courage with an affectionate nature and addicted to philosophy. It appears that Porcia genuinely loved Brutus and both partners seems to have been devoted to each other. They had a son, who died in 43 BC.In 44 BC, Brutus, along with many other co-conspirators, murdered Caesar. He confided in Porcia of the plot to assassinate Caesar, and as sign of his trust, she is credited as being the only woman aware of the plot. Some contemporaries believe that Porcia might have been involved in the conspiracy itself, as her father had been previously Caesar’s greatest enemy in the Senate.On the day of Caesar’s assassination, Porcia is reported to have been extremely disturbed with anxiety and she sent messengers to the Senate to check that her husband was still alive. She worked herself up to the point whereupon her fainting, her maids feared that she was dying.When Brutus and the other assassins fled Rome to Athens, Porcia stayed in Italy. She was overcome with grief to part from Brutus, but tried hard to conceal it. In the biography Marcus Brutus, the historian Plutarch states that Brutus hearing about his wife’s state, said of Porcia “though the natural weakness of her body hinders her from doing what only the strength of men can perform, she has a mind as valiant and as active for the good of her country as the best of us.”In 43 BC, he was declared murderer and enemy of the state for Julius Caesar’s assasination. In 42 BC, Brutus rallied his troops, who totalled about 17 legions. Octavian and Antonius teamed up to face him with their 19 legions. The two armies met in the Battle of Philippi, and the engagement ended in Brutus’ defeat. Knowing that he would be captured, Brutus committed suicide.His wife Porcia was reported to have committed suicide upon hearing of her husband’s death —however modern historians find this tale questionable. According to the historian Garry Wills “Porcia died of illness before the battle of Philippi (…) but Valerius Maximus [mistakenly] wrote that she killed herself at news of Brutus’s death in that battle.” The claim that Porcia’s death occurring a few weeks before that of Brutus is backed up by a letter sent in before the battle of Philippi —it suggests that Porcia did not commit suicide, but died of some lingering illness. As Plutarch states, in the letter Brutus lamented deeply her death and furiously blamed their friends in Rome for not looking after her. There is also an earlier letter from Brutus to Atticus, which hints at Porcia’s illness and concern about her condition. Cicero later wrote to Brutus, consoling him in his heavy grief.romologist Imma cry a bit.I’m not crying you’re crying -- source link

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