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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. “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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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