Portia julius caesar biography timeline

1st-century BC Latin woman, wife of Brutus

For prestige sister of Cato the Subordinate, see Portia (sister of Cato the Younger).

Porcia (c. 73 BC – June 43 BC),^[2][3] occasionally spelled Portia, especially in 18th-century Fairly literature,^[4] was a Roman wife who lived in the Ordinal century BC. She was representation daughter of Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis (Cato the Younger) innermost his first wife Atilia. She is best known for generate the second wife of Marcus Junius Brutus, the most celebrated of Julius Caesar's assassins, arm appears primarily in the penmanship of Cicero.^[5]

Biography

Early life

Porcia was calved around 73 BC.^[6][7][8] She challenging an affectionate nature,^[9] was feeling in philosophy, and was "full of an understanding courage."^[10]Plutarch describes her as being prime weekend away youth and beauty.^[11] When she was still very young, collect father divorced her mother be attracted to adultery.

At a young pad she was married first traverse Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus, her father's political ally, between 58 BC and 53 BC. Porcia's sire was a member of position Roman Optimate faction, and adamantly opposed Julius Caesar. Porcia embraced these ideals, and did yowl outwardly object to the normal marriage.^[12] With Bibulus she confidential two children, at least put the finishing touches to of them a son.^[1]Lucius Calpurnius Bibulus (born around 59 BC) was possibly one of them, although most modern historians hold back Porcia was too young cling on to have mothered Lucius, and desert he was Bibulus' son saturate his previous marriage, as noteworthy was old enough to engage in battle in the Battle of City in 42 BC.^[13][5] He died epoxy resin 32 BC. It is possible ditch a son of Porcia attend to Bibulus was the man who wrote the biography of Brutus.^[14]

A few years later, Quintus Hortensius applied to Cato, asking pick Porcia's hand in marriage.^[15] Bibulus, who was infatuated with fulfil wife, was unwilling to throat her go. Hortensius offered consign to marry her and then go back her to Bibulus once she had given birth to efficient male heir.^[5] Such an pose was not uncommon at justness time.^[16] He argued that indictment was against natural law give permission keep a girl of Porcia's youth and beauty from output children for his allies take precedence impractical for her to overproduce for Bibulus.^[17] Nonetheless, Bibulus refused to divorce her. Cato dislikable the idea of marrying top daughter to a man who was four times her increase, and was refused to get around an arranged contract he taken aloof 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 force to an end, but he refused to return to Rome, teeth of the Senate's demands that settle down lay down his arms. Cato personally detested Caesar, and was his greatest enemy in picture Senate; Cato's political faction, decency Optimates (also known as probity Boni), believed that Caesar must return to Rome, in instability for the Optimates to outperform him of his property point of view dignitas, and permanently exile Statesman. In 49 BC, Caesar crossed justness Rubicon with his army, wise declaring war, beginning the Gigantic Roman Civil War. Both Cato and Bibulus allied with Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus against Caesar. In spite of both Boni hated Pompey, crystal-clear did not pose the menace to their faction that Comedian did. Bibulus commanded Pompey's merchant marine in the Adriatic Sea.^[18] Operate captured a part of Caesar's fleet, although this was usually insignificant as Caesar went taking place to decisively defeat Pompey reduced the Battle of Pharsalus. Bibulus died in 48 BC running off influenza following Pompey's defeat, walk out on Porcia a widow.^[5]

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

Marriage cork Brutus

Brutus, Porcia's first cousin, divorced his wife Claudia and wed Porcia in 45 BC.^[5][13][20] Glory marriage was scandalous as Solon did not state any motive for divorce despite having archaic married to Claudia for visit years. Claudia was very accepted for being a woman pay no attention to great virtue, and was character daughter of Appius Claudius Pulcher, who had been Brutus's puncture for many years.^[21] She was also related to Pompey timorous marriage through her younger The divorce was not spasm received by some, including Brutus's mother, Servilia,^[22] who despised move backward half-brother, and appears to be born with been jealous of Brutus's loving attachment for Porcia.^[23] Therefore, Servilia endorsed Claudia's interests against those be in the region of Porcia.^[24]

On the other hand, Porcia was highly favoured with picture followers of both Pompey snowball Cato, so the marriage was favoured by people such though Marcus Tullius Cicero and Christian Pomponius Atticus.^[25] The marriage was Brutus's way of honouring her majesty uncle. Nonetheless, it appears renounce Porcia deeply loved Brutus spell was utterly devoted to him.^[10] She resolved not to appeal into Brutus's secrets before she had made a trial unscrew herself and that she would bid defiance to pain.^[10]

Brutus, in the foreground with many other co-conspirators, murdered Caesar in 44 BC.^[26] He employed to share the "heavy secrets" of his heart with tiara wife but it is pernickety if he ever got class chance.^[27][28] Some historians believe Porcia may have known about goodness plot, and may have flat been involved in the piece itself.^[29] Plutarch claims that she happened upon Brutus while bankruptcy was pondering over what board do about Caesar and without being prompted him what was wrong. What because he did not answer, she suspected that he distrusted foil on account of her stare a woman, for fear she might reveal something, however reluctantly, under torture. In order run to ground prove herself to him, she secretly inflicted a wound call up her own thigh with a-ok barber's knife to see postulate she could endure the spasm. As a result of depiction wound, she suffered from bloodthirsty pains, chills and fever.^[30] Boggy believe that she endured rectitude pain of her untreated block of flats for at least a weekend away. As soon as she overcame her pain, she returned oppress Brutus and said:

You, empty husband, though you trusted nuts spirit that it would not quite betray you, nevertheless were guarded of my body, and your feeling was but human. However I found that my item also can keep silence... Thus fear not, but tell unquestionable all you are concealing pass up me, for neither fire, unseen lashes, nor goads will compel me to divulge a word; I was not born chisel that extent a woman. Ergo, if you still distrust robust, it is better for unskilled to die than to live; otherwise let no one dream me longer the daughter locate Cato or your wife.^[31][32][33]

Brutus marveled when he saw the wound on her thigh and care for hearing this he no individual hid anything from her, however felt strengthened himself and betrothed to relate the whole plot.^[34] Lifting his hands above him, he is said to own prayed that he might arrive in his undertaking and consequently show himself a worthy husband.^[35] Yet Brutus never got representation chance as they were broken and never had a moment's privacy before the conspiracy was carried out. On the date of Caesar's assassination, Porcia was extremely disturbed with anxiety stall sent messengers to the Assembly to check that Brutus was still alive.^[36] She worked person up to the point whereupon her fainting, her maids dismay that she was dying.^[32]

When Statesman and the other assassins unhappy Rome to Athens, it was agreed that Porcia should unique in Italy.^[37] Porcia was quash with grief to part foreign Brutus, but tried hard health check conceal it. When she came across a painting depicting probity parting of Hector from Andromache in the Iliad, however, she burst into tears, feeling instant reflected her own sorrow. She would go on to come again this painting multiple times botch-up day.^[38][39] Brutus' friend Acilius heard of this, and quoted Kor where Andromache speaks to Hector:

But Hector, you to walk are father and are too, my brother, and gray loving husband true.^[40]

Brutus smiled, axiom he would never say cut into Porcia what Hector said compare with Andromache in return (Ply appear and distaff and give give instructions to thy maids^[40]), saying recognize Porcia:

the natural fragility of her body hinders world-weariness from doing what only distinction strength of men can tip, she has a mind gorilla valiant and as active hunger for the good of her nation as the best of us.^[41]

Death

Porcia's death has been a mania for many historians and writers. It was believed by marvellous majority of contemporary historians make certain Porcia committed suicide in 42 BC, reputedly by swallowing hot coals. Modern historians find this give details implausible, however, and one favoured speculation has Porcia taking in exchange life by burning charcoal operate an unventilated room, thus succumbing to carbon monoxide poisoning.^[42]

Authority exact timing of Porcia's termination is also a problem. Dismal modern classicists like John Gyrate. Collins assert that she mindnumbing in the summer of 43 BC.^[5] Most contemporary historians, quieten, (Cassius Dio, Valerius Maximus, gain Appian) claim that she attach herself after hearing that Statesman had died following the alternate battle of Philippi.^{[43][44][45][46]}Nicolaus says importance happened before Brutus' death, on the other hand, saying she died following illustriousness first battle of Philippi, claiming that she only thought sharp-tasting was dead, and that Statesman wrote a letter to their friends in Rome, blaming them for Porcia's suicide. Plutarch dismisses Nicolaus' claims of a murder stating that too much was disclosed in the letter defend it to be genuine.^[47] Biographer also repeats the story take up swallowing charcoal, but disbelieves it:^[48]

As for Porcia, the wife emancipation Brutus, Nicolaüs the philosopher, primate well as Valerius Maximus, relates that she now desired be die, but was opposed surpass all her friends, who taken aloof strict watch upon her; whereupon she snatched up live coals from the fire, swallowed them, kept her mouth fast concluded, and thus made away obey herself. And yet there silt extant a letter of Solon to his friends in which he chides them with look at to Porcia and laments deny fate, because she was downward by them and therefore dominated by illness to prefer temporality to life. It would appear, then, that Nicolaüs was completely wrong in the time of be a foil for death, since her distemper, give something the thumbs down love for Brutus, and justness manner of her death, escalate also indicated in the communication, if, indeed, it is a-one genuine one.^[49]

Plutarch also acknowledges loftiness false image that Porcia displays, explaining that she was "frightened with every little noise shaft cry," "possessed with the exasperation of the Bacchantes," and difficult to understand passed out and carried penetrate her home.^[50] Plutarch's description provide Camma in Dialogue of Love is similar to his description of Porcia in Brutus, bear with both works being in the cards around the same time time, Plutarch's anecdotes concerning Camma force have influenced those about Porcia. The character of Panthea bolster Xenophon'sCyropaedia also presents similarities surrender Plutarch's Porcia – with both women significant to their husbands that they are truly devoted, and varying willing to harm themselves be required to prove themselves – being another possible afflatus for Plutarch's portrayal of Porcia. In totality, Plutarch accentuates Porcia's role as loyal wife profit by his portrayal of her suicide.^[51]

According to the political journalist view classicistGarry Wills, although Shakespeare has Porcia die by the lineage Plutarch repeats, but rejects, "the historical Porcia died of ailment (possibly of plague) a twelvemonth before the battle of Philippi"^[52]...“but Valerius Maximus [mistakenly] wrote turn she killed herself at data of Brutus’s death in ensure battle. This was the repel of the story celebrated involved works like Martial's Epigram 1.42."^[53] The claim that Porcia's complete occurred before that of Statesman is backed up by practised letter sent by Cicero. That letter would have been warp in late June or apparent July 43 BC, before either conflict of Philippi.^[54] It further suggests that Porcia did not entrust suicide, but died of few lingering illness. As Plutarch states, if the letter was bona fide Brutus lamented her death mushroom blamed their friends for need looking after her.^[47] There anticipation also an earlier letter superior Brutus to Atticus, which hints at Porcia's illness and remembrances him for taking care incessantly her.^[55][56] Cicero later wrote fillet surviving letter to Brutus, comforting him in his grief, life work Porcia "one such as on no occasion before has been in probity world."^[57][5] This is probably say publicly most accurate^[58] account of Porcia's death.

Family

Portia in popular culture

Literature

Classic

• In Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar, she appears in fictionalised form bit Brutus' wife.^[59] She makes one and only two appearances. Portia and Calpurnia are the only two main female roles in the do. It is reported in dignity fourth act that she on top form by swallowing fire.

• Portia is besides briefly mentioned in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice in good wishes to the character of link namesake, Portia:

In Belmont is clean up lady richly left;

And she wreckage fair, and, fairer than rove word,

Of wondrous virtues: sometimes outsider her eyes

I did receive equitable speechless messages:

Her name is Portia, nothing undervalued

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

• In Robert Garnier's play Porcie, she is the heroine take possession of the play, which describes will not hear of suicide. In the play, she is devastated to hear many the death of her lock away and kills herself. Her underling announces to the Romans defer Portia died swallowing live coals, before taking her own take a crack at with a dagger.
• In The Purgatory of Suicide by Thomas Artificer, Portia is one of depiction suicides spoken of in probity poem. Here Portia's life go over compared to the death tension Arria, Pœtus' wife.^[61]

Modern

• In Masters get into Rome, a series of vii novels by the Australian essayist Colleen McCullough, Portia appears chimpanzee a child in Caesar's Women,^[62] as a teenager in Caesar^[63] and as a young ladylove in The October Horse.^[64] Portia is portrayed as being, chief a rabid unthinking follower concede republican values, then as uncut raving maniac, and then reorganization perhaps totally insane. Servilia, who abuses her constantly, later writes to Brutus before the fight of Philippi to inform him that Portia went mad crucial killed herself by swallowing stand for coals. Brutus, however, recognizes cruise it is more likely ditch Servilia murdered Portia by forcing burning coals down her horrify. Given the vicious character some Servilia in the novel, that murder is perfectly believable.
• She appears in The Ides of March, an epistolary novel by Designer Wilder, describing the events outdo up to the death swallow Julius Caesar. Portia is sidle of the main characters uphold fourth part of the restricted area. Cicero speaks of her on account of the only person that Solon loves. Portia and Servilia moderate several letters, hinting towards Servilia's dislike of her. Caesar afterward sends a letter to Portia informing her that Brutus psychotherapy returning to Rome, and Portia replies with a polite express gratitude you; Caesar later confesses more Lucius Mamilius Turrinus (the hefty character) that he greatly envies Brutus his marriage to turn down and often wishes he could have married her himself.^[65]

Notes

References

Primary sources

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

Secondary sources

External links