Brutus:  One Complex  Dude...

You think you have days when you wake up hating your job?  Look at what this poor chap is going through, all because he had a little trouble with Ionian pirates, then decided to order an assination to cover up the evidence of his difficulties...

Brutus removed the balled toga covering his face after a moment of intense screaming. Three days now Lucius was travelling back to his post in Asia, after the operation in Samos. While the most journey has been pleasant, there were times of the day where the Quaestor would isolate himself in his quarters, thinking of what has transpired this last year. It was times such as these, that Brutus completely lost his self-control. Being tormented constantly by guilts for causing the deaths of so many people to no avail, both the crews of the sunk Roman vessels and the people of Rhodes, for lying to the Senate by presenting this his incompetence as victory, for dishonouring his name, the Quaestor often found comfort at being alone, mourning.

Read the entire post here.


But how, oh how did it ever come to this?  Well, it all began, probably, the day in the Senate when Marcus Aemilius Corvus accused Brutus (newly-appointed Questor of Asia Province) of mucking about "while his province burned."  Strong words, that...and probably unfair. But it really upset young Brutus.

He was first charged with ridding the seas around Asia Minor of pirates, which had been quite a nuisance.  With the help of a letter from the Senate, he "encouraged" the people of Rhodes to build a sizeable fleet for Rome.  Once procured, Brutus put to sea with said fleet...and promptly ran many of the new ships aground in an ill-fated night action.
Tsk...tsk...not much of a sailor, our Brutus.
What made things worse, of course, was the fact that the pirate fleet (led by the brigand Yonni Deppulous) promptly sacked Rhodes while the Romans were off chasing after some decoy ships around the island of Samos!  The Rhodians, important Friends and Allies of the Roman People, were understandably miffed about this, and their Governor-Archon Agathocles had a few choice (and cranky) words for Quaestor Brutus when the fleet finally limped back into the harbor.
Well, that didn't sit too well with Young Brutus, so he decided to kick his intimidation program into high gear, arranging for a little "accident" to befall the Governor-Archon before he could lodge a formal complaint to the Senate:

"Hmmm... I might kill two birds with one stone after all." Brutus finally spoke after a couple of minutes. "When is the next planned exit of Agathocles?" Lucius asked Priscus. "In two days" the old spy replied. "Very good. Have some Rhodian scum -- whatever dishonest bum you can rally from the streets and have them motivated to assault on the Governor-Archon but be careful not to reveal your identity. At the time of the attack, you will be on the Governor's side; if the assassins cannot kill him, do it yourself as discretely as possible. Also, have the guards drunk the previous day so that they are not combat ready when the time of the hit comes. Priscus, make it look like a pay back; as if the Rhodian people were rioting in anger against Agathocles, for the pirate's attack. You understand?" Brutus asked his spy with a serious voice. "I do, sir." Priscus replied, accepting his assignment. "Good. Take 3,000 denarii from my vault in the case you need some ready coin." Brutus finished. "Oh, and after the deed has been done, kill the murderers -- don't give them a chance to speak; to anybody". "Yes, sir." Priscus nodded.
"Good. I will be leaving for Asia immediately. Once your work is done, come and join me."


Read the entire account here.

Read the episode in the Governor-Archon's audience hall that prompted Brutus' rash decision here!

Did Brutus' attempt to permanently silence the Governor Archon work?   As of this writing, we don't quite know yet...