The House of the Brutii

*We Brutii are the only true Romans. We saved Rome, we drove out the kings, we made the Republic. The family deserve respect; respect, and obedience. We know what is best for Rome: new lands, living space, territories, slaves! I know what must be done. The Greeks look down their perfumed noses at all Romans, and they hate us. I'm going to give them a reason for hate...when I've crushed them!*

*Roman steel, that's the answer; Roman steel in the Brutii fist. And the other great Roman families...the Scipii; trash! They have no respect for proper Roman ways, for us! The Julii prostitute themselves. As if the people matter! Bah! We Brutii must lead Rome.*

The Brutii were a wealthy family of Romans who's private military defeated and colonized Greece, Macedon, Asia Minor and Egypt. In 227 BC they declared independence from the Senate and the other Roman houses. In 215 BC they conquered Rome and declared the leader of the house, Julianus Vatinius emperor of all of Rome.

**Origin:**

The Brutii are descended from nobles who overthrew the Roman kings, and established the republic. Over the years, the Brutii's influence over the senate waned, however they managed to gain a firm foothold in south Italy, in control of the settlements Tarentum and Croton. The golden age of the Brutii is said to begin with the ascension of Tiberius Brutus (To his role as head of the house), and end with the ascension of Julianus Vatinius (To go and found ***Space Rome***).

**Early Conquests:**

The Brutii, under orders from the senate, seized lands on the west coast of Greece, such as Apollonia, Salona, and Segestica, territories that were unaffiliated with either the Macadons or the alliance between the Greek City States.

Afterwards, the Brutii sent their armies north to end the border stalemate between the Julii and the Gauls, beginning the first of several Julii campaigns against the Gauls. Out of the war the Brutii managed to obtain the territories surrounding the Gaelic town of Patarvium(close to modern day Venice). This war was followed by peace between the Brutii and Gaul, but the Julii would continue with their wars until the Gauls were fully conquered.

The House of the Scipii, having built up their army quite considerably, tried to seize the Greek city of Syracuse, located on Sicily, where the Scipii had had vested intrests in for some time. The attack was repelled, but this began the wars between the Greek City States and the Scipii, and far more importantly, the Brutii.

What followed was a massive battle between the Brutii and the Greeks outside the town of Thermon, containing the largest armies both sides could muster. The battle was eventually ended when the faction leader Aulus Brutus charged with his bodyguard into the flank of the enemy line, leading to a mass route. The remnants of the Greek force retreated into the town, but were unable to prevent the Romans from conquering the town soon after.

The Greeks allies, the Macedonians, soon declared war on the Brutii as well, but were debilitated by a plague in their lands. There were rumors throughout Greece that the plague was a result of of the Gauls, the Brutii, or that the Brutii were spreading the disease throughout the Macedonian and Greek cities. The last one is actually possible, as we have historical records from a Roman spy by the name of Luca(likely a pseudonym) implying he was involved in spreading the disease to Athens, the Greeks capital city.

While the Disease occupied the Macedonians to the north, the Brutii seized southern Greece, including the city of Sparta, before carrying the war back to the north, seizing Athens after it had recovered from the plague. With that, the Greek City States had no more presence on mainland Greece, leaving the Macedonians to be dealt with.

With assistance from the Thracians, the Brutii managed to seize the various territories of the Macedonians, and used their navy to defeat the remnants of the Greeks, ending the war.

In 270 BC the capital of the Brutii was Tarentum, and following expansions into Greece and Asia Minor respectively, the capital would move to Athens and Jonstantinople (Formally Byzantium, Later Istanbul), before following the successful conquering of the other Roman families it was moved to Rome, where Julianus Vatinius would remain until his Ascension.

**Leaders:**

The House of the Brutii's rise to power began with the reign of Tiberius Brutus, who reorganized the Brutii's military, and set up their economy in preparation for the war against the Greeks, which would only happen after his death.

He was succeeded by his son, Aulus Brutus, who conquered the Greeks and Macedon, before continuing into a campaign into Asia Minor with the assistance of his younger brother and successor, Amulius Brutus. Aulus lead the Brutii longer than any other leaders, and brought more territory and wealth into the Roman Republic than any other leaders of the Brutii, or any other Roman house.

Following Aulus's death, his brother, Amulius took his lace ahead Aulus's sons. Although a veteran from the Greek, Asia Minor, and Thracian campaigns, old age had left him unable to continue with his wars, and he had grown more unstable with his old age. He served out his reign withing Jonstantinople for less than a year before old age took him as well.

The death of Amulius left the question of who would lead the Brutii to greatness uncertain, but the question was soon answered by the discovery of a bright youth from Crete by the name of Julianus Vatinius. His appointment was contested by the Senate, and his rise to power signaled the end of positive relations between them and the Brutii. After a wildly successful campaign against the Egyptians(The most powerful non-Roman faction at the time), As well as the institution of the Marian reforms, Julianus began marshaling his troops and began moving towards Italy with the intention of making himself King. The Roman civil war lasted many years, and there were many frought battles, but the war was ended when Julianus defeated the Senate in the open field, than fed the remaining Senaters to his dogs. He would rule in Rome until his Ascension, when he was followed by a youth from Alexandria, who some rumored was his bastard son.