THE BRUTUS DYNASTY WAS AMONG the most powerful families in the early Roman Republic. It was a Brutus, Lucius Junius, who led the revolt against the last king of Rome and helped found the republic itself in 509 B.C. Throughout Roman history, his descendants would hold every important state office, and view themselves as true defenders of Rome.

In 264 B.C., Brutus Pera, an important member of this august political family, died. His sons elected to honor him with a tribute called a munus—essentially, a public wake that included distribution of meats and wine. But the brothers also wanted the munus to include something more memorable: a fight to the death.