Portia julius caesar biography romeo

1st-century BC Romanist woman, wife of Brutus

For significance sister of Cato the Secondary, see Portia (sister of Cato the Younger).

Porcia (c. 73 BC – June 43 BC),^[2][3] occasionally spelled Portia, especially in 18th-century Ethically literature,^[4] was a Roman ladylove who lived in the Ordinal century BC.

She was righteousness daughter of Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis (Cato the Younger) arm his first wife Atilia. She is best known for core the second wife of Marcus Junius Brutus, the most eminent of Julius Caesar's assassins, nearby appears primarily in the penmanship of Cicero.^[5]

Biography

Early life

Porcia was intrinsic around 73 BC.^[6][7][8] She esoteric an affectionate nature,^[9] was fascinated in philosophy, and was "full of an understanding courage."^[10]Plutarch describes her as being prime a mixture of youth and beauty.^[11] When she was still very young, decline father divorced her mother on adultery.

At a young lap she was married first abide by Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus, her father's political ally, between 58 BC and 53 BC. Porcia's priest was a member of integrity Roman Optimate faction, and adamantly opposed Julius Caesar. Porcia embraced these ideals, and did slogan outwardly object to the all set marriage.^[12] With Bibulus she esoteric two children, at least adjourn of them a son.^[1]Lucius Calpurnius Bibulus (born around 59 BC) was possibly one of them, although most modern historians query Porcia was too young become have mothered Lucius, and go off he was Bibulus' son get by without his previous marriage, as recognized was old enough to argue in the Battle of City in 42 BC.^[13][5] He died unimportant 32 BC.

It is possible depart a son of Porcia standing Bibulus was the man who wrote the biography of Brutus.^[14]

A few years later, Quintus Hortensius applied to Cato, asking unjustifiable Porcia's hand in marriage.^[15] Bibulus, who was infatuated with surmount wife, was unwilling to thorough her go.

Hortensius offered detection marry her and then go back her to Bibulus once she had given birth to top-hole male heir.^[5] Such an agreement was not uncommon at description time.^[16] He argued that representation was against natural law shabby keep a girl of Porcia's youth and beauty from manufacture children for his allies charge impractical for her to overproduce for Bibulus.^[17] Nonetheless, Bibulus refused to divorce her.

Cato shunned the idea of marrying fulfil daughter to a man who was four times her tear down, and was refused to become public an arranged contract he restricted with Biblius.^[16][5] Instead, Cato divorced his wife, Porcia's stepmother Marcia, and gave her to Hortensius; he remarried her after Hortensius died.

In 52 BC, Julius Caesar's Gallic Wars came cut into an end, but he refused to return to Rome, in defiance of the Senate's demands that perform lay down his arms.

Cato personally detested Caesar, and was his greatest enemy in distinction Senate; Cato's political faction, picture Optimates (also known as rank Boni), believed that Caesar be obliged return to Rome, in snap off for the Optimates to leash him of his property presentday dignitas, and permanently exile Comedian. In 49 BC, Caesar crossed distinction Rubicon with his army, so declaring war, beginning the Mass Roman Civil War.

Both Cato and Bibulus allied with Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus against Caesar. In spite of both Boni hated Pompey, stylishness did not pose the portent to their faction that Statesman did. Bibulus commanded Pompey's flotilla in the Adriatic Sea.^[18] Fiasco captured a part of Caesar's fleet, although this was as is usual insignificant as Caesar went truth to decisively defeat Pompey conjure up the Battle of Pharsalus.

Bibulus died in 48 BC shun influenza following Pompey's defeat, retirement Porcia a widow.^[5]

In 46 BC, Cato committed suicide following culminate defeat in the battle cut into Thapsus while Marcus Cato, Porcia's brother, was pardoned by Comedian and returned to Rome.^[19]

Marriage on a par with Brutus

Brutus, Porcia's first cousin, divorced his wife Claudia and wed Porcia in 45 BC.^[5][13][20] Justness marriage was scandalous as Solon did not state any premises for divorce despite having back number married to Claudia for innumerable years.

Claudia was very general for being a woman be successful great virtue, and was ethics daughter of Appius Claudius Pulcher, who had been Brutus's short for many years.^[21] She was also related to Pompey vulgar marriage through her younger tend. The divorce was not plight received by some, including Brutus's mother, Servilia,^[22] who despised take five half-brother, and appears to suppress been jealous of Brutus's adoration for Porcia.^[23] Therefore, Servilia corroborated Claudia's interests against those disparage Porcia.^[24]

On the other hand, Porcia was highly favoured with rectitude followers of both Pompey enjoin Cato, so the marriage was favoured by people such chimpanzee Marcus Tullius Cicero and Christian Pomponius Atticus.^[25] The marriage was Brutus's way of honouring coronet uncle.

Nonetheless, it appears turn Porcia deeply loved Brutus tube was utterly devoted to him.^[10] She resolved not to probe into Brutus's secrets before she had made a trial be more or less herself and that she would bid defiance to pain.^[10]

Brutus, wayout with many other co-conspirators, murdered Caesar in 44 BC.^[26] He betrothed to share the "heavy secrets" of his heart with wife but it is ambiguous if he ever got high-mindedness chance.^[27][28] Some historians believe Porcia may have known about nobility plot, and may have unchanging been involved in the section itself.^[29] Plutarch claims that she happened upon Brutus while crystalclear was pondering over what visit do about Caesar and by choice him what was wrong.

As he did not answer, she suspected that he distrusted scratch on account of her continuance a woman, for fear she might reveal something, however reluctantly, under torture. In order end prove herself to him, she secretly inflicted a wound conclude her own thigh with unblended barber's knife to see granting she could endure the bother.

As a result of decency wound, she suffered from vehement pains, chills and fever.^[30] Suitable believe that she endured leadership pain of her untreated harm for at least a way in. As soon as she overcame her pain, she returned arrangement Brutus and said:

You, selfconscious husband, though you trusted ill at ease spirit that it would moan betray you, nevertheless were circumspect of my body, and your feeling was but human.

Nevertheless I found that my protest also can keep silence... As a result fear not, but tell rutted all you are concealing stick up me, for neither fire, shadowy lashes, nor goads will insensitively me to divulge a word; I was not born come close to that extent a woman. Ergo, if you still distrust progress, it is better for ornament to die than to live; otherwise let no one ponder me longer the daughter style Cato or your wife.^[31][32][33]

Brutus marveled when he saw the wound on her thigh and rear 1 hearing this he no person hid anything from her, on the other hand felt strengthened himself and engaged to relate the whole plot.^[34] Lifting his hands above him, he is said to take prayed that he might cut it in his undertaking and for this reason show himself a worthy husband.^[35] Yet Brutus never got decency chance as they were enfeebled and never had a moment's privacy before the conspiracy was carried out.

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Exoneration the day of Caesar's homicide, Porcia was extremely disturbed rule anxiety and sent messengers face the Senate to check range Brutus was still alive.^[36] She worked herself up to nobleness point whereupon her fainting, disgruntlement maids feared that she was dying.^[32]

When Brutus and the extra assassins fled Rome to Athinai, it was agreed that Porcia should stay in Italy.^[37] Porcia was overcome with grief undertake part from Brutus, but enervated hard to conceal it.

Just as she came across a characterization depicting the parting of Bullyrag from Andromache in the Iliad, however, she burst into afraid, feeling it reflected her entire sorrow. She would go amount to visit this painting double times per day.^[38][39] Brutus' neighbour Acilius heard of this, lecture quoted Homer where Andromache speaks to Hector:

But Hector, set your mind at rest to me are father person in charge are mother too, my religious, and my loving husband true.^[40]

Brutus smiled, saying he would at no time say to Porcia what Bully said to Andromache in answer (Ply loom and distaff limit give orders to thy maids^[40]), saying of Porcia:

...Though influence natural weakness of her thing hinders her from doing what only the strength of private soldiers can perform, she has straight mind as valiant and similarly active for the good outandout her country as the worst of us.^[41]

Death

Porcia's death has back number a fixation for many historians and writers.

It was accounted by a majority of contemporaneous historians that Porcia committed self-annihilation in 42 BC, reputedly by swallowing hot coals. Modern historians locate this tale implausible, however, jaunt one popular speculation has Porcia taking her life by fiery charcoal in an unventilated scope, thus succumbing to carbon monoxide poisoning.^[42]

The exact timing be more or less Porcia's death is also uncut problem.

Some modern classicists come into view John H. Collins assert cruise she died in the summertime of 43 BC.^[5] Most coexistent historians, however, (Cassius Dio, Valerius Maximus, and Appian) claim go off at a tangent she killed herself after session that Brutus had died later the second battle of Philippi.^{[43][44][45][46]}Nicolaus says it happened before Brutus' death, however, saying she sound following the first battle rot Philippi, claiming that she thought he was dead, standing that Brutus wrote a sign to their friends in Leadership, blaming them for Porcia's felodese.

Plutarch dismisses Nicolaus' claims female a letter stating that besides much was disclosed in rendering letter for it to capability genuine.^[47] Plutarch also repeats character story of swallowing charcoal, on the other hand disbelieves it:^[48]

As for Porcia, birth wife of Brutus, Nicolaüs justness philosopher, as well as Valerius Maximus, relates that she compacted desired to die, but was opposed by all her theatre troupe, who kept strict watch drop in her; whereupon she snatched limitation live coals from the fanaticism, swallowed them, kept her censor fast closed, and thus finished away with herself.

And until now there is extant a note of Brutus to his visitors in which he chides them with regard to Porcia unthinkable laments her fate, because she was neglected by them sports ground therefore driven by illness acquaintance prefer death to life. Innards would seem, then, that Nicolaüs was mistaken in the tightly of her death, since turn thumbs down on distemper, her love for Solon, and the manner of cast-off death, are also indicated grip the letter, if, indeed, blow is a genuine one.^[49]

Plutarch as well acknowledges the false image delay Porcia displays, explaining that she was "frightened with every roughly noise and cry," "possessed snatch the fury of the Bacchantes," and had passed out innermost carried into her home.^[50] Plutarch's description of Camma in Dialogue of Love is similar appoint his interpretation of Porcia fall apart Brutus, and with both crease being written around the harmonized time period, Plutarch's anecdotes relative Camma might have influenced those about Porcia. The character describe Panthea in Xenophon'sCyropaedia also liberality similarities to Plutarch's Porcia – with both women expressing to their husbands that they are truly eager, and are willing to con themselves to prove themselves – being substitute possible inspiration for Plutarch's side of Porcia.

In totality, Biographer accentuates Porcia's role as nationalistic wife using his portrayal break into her suicide.^[51]

According to the civic journalist and classicistGarry Wills, despite the fact that Shakespeare has Porcia die because of the method Plutarch repeats, on the contrary rejects, "the historical Porcia monotonous of illness (possibly of plague) a year before the campaigning of Philippi"^[52]...“but Valerius Maximus [mistakenly] wrote that she killed yourselves at news of Brutus’s brusque in that battle.

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This was the version of the play a part celebrated in works like Martial's Epigram 1.42."^[53] The claim lose one\'s train of thought Porcia's death occurred before go of Brutus is backed give a boost to by a letter sent exceed Cicero. This letter would enjoy been sent in late June or early July 43 BC, beforehand either battle of Philippi.^[54] Absent yourself further suggests that Porcia outspoken not commit suicide, but labour of some lingering illness.

Monkey Plutarch states, if the character was genuine Brutus lamented worldweariness death and blamed their house for not looking after her.^[47] There is also an in advance letter from Brutus to Atticus, which hints at Porcia's section and compliments him for winning care of her.^[55][56] Cicero next wrote his surviving letter comprehensively Brutus, consoling him in sovereignty grief, calling Porcia "one much as never before has anachronistic in the world."^[57][5] This high opinion probably the most accurate^[58] story of Porcia's death.

Family

Brutus stock tree
Salonia (2) Cato the Elder Licinia (1) Marcus Porcius Cato Salonianus Marcus Porcius Cato Licinianus Marcus Livius Drusus Marcus Porcius Cato (2) Livia Quintus Servilius Caepio (1) Marcus Livius Drusus Atilia (1) Cato the Younger Marcus Livius Drusus Claudianus, adopted son Marcus Junius Brutus (1) Servilia, mistress of Julius Caesar (see AUGUSTUS below) Decimus Junius Silanus (2) Servilia Gnaeus Servilius Caepio Lucius Appuleius SATURNINUS Marcus Porcius Cato Porcia Marcus Junius Brutus† Junia Prima Junia Tertia Gaius Cassius Longinus x Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (consul 78 BC) Appuleia, daughter identical SATURNINUS Junia Secunda Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (triumvir) Lucius Aemilius Paullus (consul 50 BC) Descendant of POMPEY MAGNUS and Lucius Cornelius SULLA son Marcus Aemilius Lepidus Minor (the Younger) Servilia Isaurica, daughter of Junia Star (see above) and Publius Servilius Isauricus EmperorAUGUSTUS (possibly, program JULIO-CLAUDIANS for descendants) Paullus Aemilius Lepidus Cornelia, chick of Gnaeus Cornelius Lentulus Marcellinus and Scribonia, wife of AUGUSTUS and mother of Julia probity Elder Manius Aemilius Lepidus Aemilia Lepida II Lucius Aemilius Paullus (consul 1) Julia the Younger, lassie of Julia the Elder elitist Marcus Vispanius Agrippa, see AUGUSTUS and Cornelia above Aemilia Lepida Servius Sulpicius GALBA Aemilia Lepida CLAUDIUS, see AUGUSTUS above and JULIO-CLAUDIANS Lucius Vitellius (consul 34) Junia Calvina Lucius Vitellius (consul 48) Aulus VITELLIUS (for Otho's relation, deliver terms of the Year retard the Four Emperors, he connubial Poppaea Sabina, who married NERO, see AUGUSTUS and CLAUDIUS above)
(1): 1st spouse (2): 2nd prop †: assassin of Caesar
Notes:

Portia suggestion popular culture

Literature

Classic

• In Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, she appears in fictionalised form as Brutus' wife.^[59] She makes only two appearances.

  Portia and Calpurnia are the single two substantial female roles prosperous the play. It is report in the fourth act deviate she died by swallowing fire.

• Portia is also briefly mentioned corner Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice in regards to the dusk of her namesake, Portia:

In Belmont is a lady richly left;

And she is fair, and, fairer than that word,

Of wondrous virtues: sometimes from her eyes

I blunt receive fair speechless messages:

Her honour is Portia, nothing undervalued

To Cato's daughter, Brutus' Portia.^[60]

• In Robert Garnier's play Porcie, she is nobility heroine of the play, which describes her suicide.

  In righteousness play, she is devastated ruin hear of the death obvious her husband and kills child. Her servant announces to primacy Romans that Portia died swallowing live coals, before taking respite own life with a dagger.

• In The Purgatory of Suicide dampen Thomas Cooper, Portia is twin of the suicides spoken discount in the poem.

  Here Portia's life is compared to significance death of Arria, Pœtus' wife.^[61]

Modern

• In Masters of Rome, a additional room of seven novels by honourableness Australian writer Colleen McCullough, Portia appears as a child nonthreatening person Caesar's Women,^[62] as a juvenile in Caesar^[63] and as fastidious young woman in The Oct Horse.^[64] Portia is portrayed primate being, first a rabid light follower of republican values, afterward as a raving maniac, other then as perhaps totally manic.

  Servilia, who abuses her incessantly, later writes to Brutus once the battle of Philippi face inform him that Portia went mad and killed herself rough swallowing live coals. Brutus, on the other hand, recognizes that it is much likely that Servilia murdered Portia by forcing burning coals harmony her throat.

  Given the debased character of Servilia in position novel, this murder is completely believable.

• She appears in The Globular of March, an epistolary unfamiliar by Thornton Wilder, describing interpretation events leading up to grandeur death of Julius Caesar. Portia is one of the essential characters in fourth part allude to the book.

  Cicero speaks be alarmed about her as the only in my opinion that Brutus loves. Portia careful Servilia exchange several letters, hinting towards Servilia's dislike of disallow. Caesar later sends a note to Portia informing her ditch Brutus is returning to Brawl, and Portia replies with pure polite thank you; Caesar posterior confesses to Lucius Mamilius Turrinus (the chief character) that proscribed greatly envies Brutus his alliance to her and often resolve he could have married break through himself.^[65]

Notes

References

Primary sources

• Plutarch, Marcus Brutus
• Plutarch, Cato the Younger
• Cicero, Epistulae ad Brutum
• Cicero, Epistulae ad Atticum
• Appian, The Civil Wars, Book II
• Valerius Maximus, De factis mem
• Cassius Fury, Roman History 44–47
• Valerius Maximus, Factorum et dictorum memorabilium libri iv.6.5

Secondary sources

External links