Editing Marcus Junius Brutus (section)

=== Opposition to Pompey ===
In 52, in the aftermath of the death of his uncle-in-law, [[Publius Clodius Pulcher]] (brother of his wife's father), he wrote a pamphlet, ''De Dictatura Pompei'' (On the Dictatorship of Pompey), opposing demands for Pompey to be made dictator, writing "it is better to rule no one than to be another man's slave, for one can live honourably without power but to live as a slave is impossible".{{sfn|Tempest|2017|p=50}} He was in this episode more radical than [[Cato the Younger]], who supported Pompey's elevation as sole consul for 52, saying "any government at all is better than no government".{{sfn|Tempest|2017|p=51}} Soon after Pompey was made sole consul, Pompey passed the ''lex Pompeia de vi'', which targeted [[Titus Annius Milo]], for which Cicero would write a speech ''[[pro Milone]]''.{{sfn|Tempest|2017|p=51}} Brutus also wrote for Milo, writing (a now lost) ''pro T Annio Milone'',{{efn|The speech Brutus wrote for Milo is also called the {{lang|la|exercitatio Bruti pro Milone}}. {{harvnb|Balbo|2013|p=320}}.}} in which he connected Milo's killing of Clodius explicitly to the welfare of the state and possibly also criticising what he saw as Pompey's abuses of power.{{sfn|Tempest|2017|p=52}} This speech or pamphlet was very well received and positively viewed by later teachers of rhetoric.{{sfn|Balbo|2013|p=319}}

In the late 50s, Brutus was elected as a ''pontifex'', one of the public priests in charge of supervising the calendar and maintaining Rome's peaceful relationship with the gods.<ref>{{harvnb|Tempest|2017|p=53}}, noting also that {{harvnb|Broughton|1952|p=254}} dates elevation to 51&nbsp;BC.</ref> It is likely that Caesar supported his election.{{sfn|Tempest|2017|p=53}} Caesar had previously invited Brutus, after his quaestorship, to join him as a legate in Gaul, but Brutus declined, instead going with Appius Pulcher to Cilicia, possibly out of loyalty thereto.{{sfn|Tempest|2017|pp=43–44}} During the 50s, Brutus also was involved in some major trials, working alongside famous advocates like [[Cicero]] and [[Quintus Hortensius]]. In 50, he – with Pompey and Hortensius – played a significant role in defending Brutus' father-in-law Appius Claudius from charges of treason and electoral malpractice.<ref>{{harvnb|Tempest|2017|pp=53–54}}, citing Cic. ''Att.'', 3.11.1–3 and 3.12.1.</ref>

In the political crisis running up to [[Caesar's Civil War]] in 49, Brutus' views are mostly unknown. While he did oppose Pompey until 52, Brutus may have simply taken a tactical silence.{{sfn|Tempest|2017|p=59}} Cicero's letters also indicate that Brutus may have been courted by Caesar – who is said to have spoken about avenging the death of Brutus' father – in the run-up to the civil war.<ref>{{harvnb|Tempest|2017|p=60}}, citing Cic. ''Att.'', 8.14.2.</ref>