Roman History VIII: Life of Cicero Culture Unit for 3rd and 4th Year Latin

Early Life Born in Arpinum, 106 B.C. Family was of the Equites class Learned basic law and rhetoric under Lucius Crassus, father of Marcus Crassus the Triumvir May have been friends with Pompey the Great as a boy; served under Pompey’s father in the Social War.

Early Legal Career Studied law, rhetoric, and philosophy in Rome and, later, Athens. First major trial in 80, titled the Pro Roscio Amerino Defense included speculation about friends of Sulla and their possible guilt Roscius cleared of patricide charges, winning Cicero early fame

Studies abroad Following success of Pro Rosicio, Cicero travels to the East to study different oratorical styles. Goes to Athens, Rhodes, and Asia Minor. Also looking to improve his health, which will plague him throughout his life

Oratorical Styles Three kinds: Attic- very plain, no frills. Think Joe Friday of Dragnet: “Just the facts.” Asiatic- very showy, ostentatious, less about facts and more about presentation (consider the court scenes from Chicago) Rhodian- a balance of the two, taught by Apollonius Malo of Rhodes

Early political career Returns to Rome in 77 B.C. Following year, at age 30, runs for quaestor Serves term with governor’s staff in Sicily. Known for his fairness, and befriends Sicilian people In 67 B.C., runs successfully for praetor. As before, runs at minimum age possible.

In Verrem 70 B.C.- people of Sicily ask Cicero to press charges of extortion against G. Verres, former governor of Sicily Cicero’s legal opponent is Quintus Hortensius Hortalus, considered the best lawyer of his day After Cicero’s opening speech, Verres flees Rome and enters voluntary exile

Alliance with Pompey During term as praetor, spoke in defense of the lex Manilia Law would transfer command of the Second Mithridatic War to Pompey the Great From now on, almost always supports Pompey, switching from optimatis to popularis and back

Cicero, Consul 64 B.C.- runs for consulship. Despite being a novus homo, wins on account of weak and dubious opposition In 63, puts down rebellion of fellow candidate Catiline One of his acts involved killing five conspirators without trial, an act that would haunt him later

Clodius and the Bona Dea Affair Publius Clodius Pulcher supposedly was having an affair with J. Caesar’s wife Came to Caesar’s house while his wife was conducting rites of the Bona Dea – dressed as a woman Later brought up on charges of impiety, with Cicero as a prosecution witness

Clodius Strikes Back Clodius arranges to be adopted into a plebeian family, allowing him to run for tribune 58 B.C.- re-enacts a law stating that any magistrate who does or has killed a Roman citizen without trial must be banished Later, passes a law specifically exiling Cicero

Cicero’s Exile and Return Cicero goes to Macedonia, resides (illegally) with friends Meanwhile, friends in Rome, Pompey included work to bring Cicero home Also aided by a gang led by T. Annius Milo, who becomes Clodius bitter enemy Cicero finally recalled in 57 B.C.

Changed Political Landscape Two main changes take place during Cicero’s absence from Rome: Rise of the First Triumvirate (Pompey, Crassus, and Caesar), who manipulate the affairs of state behind the scenes Use of gangs, specifically those of Clodius (popularis) and Milo (optimatis), to affect daily goings on of the city

Domination of the Triumvirs Although opposed to the Triumvirs, Cicero forced to support them or be forced out of public life Often took on cases defending friends of the Triumvirs, no matter how despicable they were

Death of Clodius 52 B.C.- Clodius dies in a gang fight outside of Rome on the Appian Way. Milo implicated in the death Pompey made sole consul to deal with rioting in the city over this When Cicero attempts to deliver Milo’s defense, Pompey’s soldiers and loyal Clodian partisans shout him down. Milo sent into exile Henceforth, the Pro Milone is known as the best speech never given

“Second Exile” 52 B.C.- Pompey passes an edict putting all former consuls to work as governors. Cicero assigned province of Cilicia in Asia Minor Felt it was like a “second exile” from Rome Fought a minor skirmish there, earning him a supplicatio, a minor military triumph

Cicero and the Bellum Civile Cicero returns to Rome about the same time Caesar crosses the Rubicon, inciting a war with Pompey Cicero remains loyal to Pompey, though stays in Italy as a regional governor Joins Pompey in Greece just before battle of Pharsalus, but does not fight

After the War After Pompey’s defeat, Cicero returns to Rome. Later pardoned by Caesar Divorced his first wife, Terrentia, and briefly married a younger woman Death of his daughter, Tullia, in 45 B.C. greatly saddened him; did not take much part in public life for a time

Sic Semper Tyrannus Was not included in the assassination of Caesar, though certainly approved of it With Caesar gone, went through a period of renewed popularity and political authority Gambled all on the denunciation of Mark Antony, whom he also felt should have died alongside Caesar

The Philipics Cicero spoke openly and often about his disdain for Antony; these later collected in a work called the Philipics Spoke favorably of Caesar’s nephew Octavian However, made the mistake of saying that Octavian should be used while expedient and then gotten rid of later

Death of Cicero When Octavian and Antony joined forces, they proscribed their individual enemies. Antony, of course, named Cicero Cicero fled Rome, but later gave up and bravely faced Antony’s soldiers, who killed him Died Dec. 7, 43 B.C. Antony nailed Cicero’s hands and head to the Rostra, Rome’s central speaker’s platform