1. Cicero and the Catilinarian Conspiracy

2. Marcus Tullius Cicero: 106 – 43 BC
born in Arpinum, SE of Rome
born into equites
novus homo – 1st man in his family to hold a curule office

3. Cicero: His Family
married Terentia (lived to 103!), from wealthy family
their children = Marcus & Tullia
divorced her after 30 years (had trouble repaying her dowry); perhaps because of financial dishonesty (?)

4. Cicero: His Family 2nd wife = Publilia, who’d been his young ward
married briefly
divorced – not enough grief over Tullia’s death

5. Catilinarian Conspiracy
Lucius Sergius Catilina (108 – 62 BC)
patrician family
supported Sulla and even killed his own brother-in-law (on proscription list)

6. Catilinarian Conspiracy
ran for consul several times, but never won
was even defeated once by Cicero
October 63 BC – uprisings in Rome, kill consuls (including Cicero)

7. Catilinarian Conspiracy
appealed to those on fringes of society
offered to clear their debts

8. Catilinarian Conspiracy
Cicero persuaded senate: senatus consultum ultimum
“ultimate decree of the senate”
gave power to consuls to suppress threats to res publica

9. Catilinarian Conspiracy
Cicero wrote 4 speeches
speeches published in 60 BC
1st speech delivered to senate November 7
Catiline left Rome to meet conspirators
2nd speech, to masses November 8

10. Catilinarian Conspiracy
3rd speech, delivered to populace December 3
included written proof, which had previously been absent
4th speech, delivered to senate December 5

11. Catilinarian Conspiracy
Caesar, Cicero’s political enemy, recommended lifetime imprisonment and confiscation of lands
5 conspirators put to death without a trial

12. Cicero hailed pater patriae
would later be exiled for killing conspirators
stay tuned for details on his enemy Clodius