Cicero and the Roman Cicero and the Roman RepublicRepublic

The Early LifeThe Early Life

Cicero was born January 3, 106 B.C.Cicero was born January 3, 106 B.C. According to Plutarch, he was an extremely According to Plutarch, he was an extremely

adept student adept student Cicero also had a love for almost everything Cicero also had a love for almost everything

Greek. He found the ancient philosophers such Greek. He found the ancient philosophers such as Plato very thought provoking. as Plato very thought provoking.

Cicero served as quaestor (elected official) in Cicero served as quaestor (elected official) in western Sicily in 75 BCwestern Sicily in 75 BC

Despite his great political success, Cicero Despite his great political success, Cicero suffered from his lack of reputable ancestry suffered from his lack of reputable ancestry

In 63 BC, Cicero was elected to the Roman In 63 BC, Cicero was elected to the Roman consul consul

Life in the ConsulLife in the Consul His only significant accomplishment during his year in His only significant accomplishment during his year in

office was the suppression of the Catiline conspiracy, a office was the suppression of the Catiline conspiracy, a plot to overthrow the Roman Republicplot to overthrow the Roman Republic

Cicero was able to oust Catiline through a series of Cicero was able to oust Catiline through a series of speeches to the Senate however he left behind his speeches to the Senate however he left behind his 'deputies' to start the revolution from within whilst 'deputies' to start the revolution from within whilst Catiline assaulted it from without Catiline assaulted it from without

Cicero managed to have these 'deputies' of Catiline Cicero managed to have these 'deputies' of Catiline confess their crime in front of the entire Senateconfess their crime in front of the entire Senate

After much debate about their punishment in the After much debate about their punishment in the Senate, Cicero had the conspirators taken to a Roman Senate, Cicero had the conspirators taken to a Roman prison, where they were hanged.prison, where they were hanged.

He was honored for suppressing the conspiracy, but He was honored for suppressing the conspiracy, but thereafter lived in fear of trial or exile for having put thereafter lived in fear of trial or exile for having put Roman citizens to death without trial Roman citizens to death without trial

Life in ExileLife in Exile In 58 BC, a new law went into effect exiling any In 58 BC, a new law went into effect exiling any

man who had put Roman citizens to death man who had put Roman citizens to death without trial without trial

Cicero claimed his honor had protected him Cicero claimed his honor had protected him against legal penalty, but he appeared ragged against legal penalty, but he appeared ragged in public and began to beg for support from the in public and began to beg for support from the people people

Cicero maintained that the Senate was jealous Cicero maintained that the Senate was jealous of him which was why they did not save him of him which was why they did not save him from exile from exile

While in exile, he began putting his speeches to While in exile, he began putting his speeches to paper.paper.

Cicero returned after over a dozen months from Cicero returned after over a dozen months from his exile to a cheering crowd his exile to a cheering crowd

Last Attempts at PoliticsLast Attempts at Politics Cicero was taken completely by surprise when Cicero was taken completely by surprise when

Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March 44 BC 44 BC

In a letter to one of the conspirators, Cicero In a letter to one of the conspirators, Cicero expressed a wish of having been "...invited to expressed a wish of having been "...invited to that superb banquet" that superb banquet"

Cicero became a popular leader during the Cicero became a popular leader during the instability and was disgusted with Mark Antonyinstability and was disgusted with Mark Antony

Cicero and Antony became the leading men in Cicero and Antony became the leading men in Rome; Cicero as spokesman for the Senate, and Rome; Cicero as spokesman for the Senate, and Antony as consul and as executor of Caesar's Antony as consul and as executor of Caesar's wisheswishes

During this time, Cicero became an unrivaled During this time, Cicero became an unrivaled popular leader popular leader

Cicero’s Last StandCicero’s Last Stand Cicero and Antony, quarreled bitterly over their Cicero and Antony, quarreled bitterly over their

political power and personalities.political power and personalities. Cicero's failed plan to drive out Octavian and Cicero's failed plan to drive out Octavian and

Antony resulted in bloodshedAntony resulted in bloodshed Cicero was soon numbered among the enemies Cicero was soon numbered among the enemies

of the state and was forced to flee Rome of the state and was forced to flee Rome Antony hunted for Cicero most viciously Antony hunted for Cicero most viciously

throughout Italy. Many men fell bravely throughout Italy. Many men fell bravely Cicero’s confidants tried to protect him as long Cicero’s confidants tried to protect him as long

as they could. However, his executioners had as they could. However, his executioners had arrived at his hideout.arrived at his hideout.

Cicero’s Last StandCicero’s Last Stand His last words were said to have been His last words were said to have been

"there is nothing proper about what you "there is nothing proper about what you are doing, soldier, but do try to kill me are doing, soldier, but do try to kill me properly.“properly.“

He was decapitated by his pursuers on He was decapitated by his pursuers on December 7, 43 BCDecember 7, 43 BC

Antony's wife Fulvia took Cicero's head, Antony's wife Fulvia took Cicero's head, pulled out his tongue, and jabbed the pulled out his tongue, and jabbed the tongue repeatedly with her hairpin, taking tongue repeatedly with her hairpin, taking a final revenge against Cicero's power of a final revenge against Cicero's power of speech. speech.

Cicero’s LegacyCicero’s Legacy He was declared a "Righteous Pagan" by the He was declared a "Righteous Pagan" by the

early Catholic Church, and therefore many of early Catholic Church, and therefore many of his works were deemed worthy of preservationhis works were deemed worthy of preservation

Saint Augustine and others quoted liberally Saint Augustine and others quoted liberally from his works "The Republic" and "The Laws," from his works "The Republic" and "The Laws," and it is due to this that we are able to recreate and it is due to this that we are able to recreate much of the work from the surviving fragments much of the work from the surviving fragments

Of Cicero's books, six on rhetoric have survived, Of Cicero's books, six on rhetoric have survived, as well as parts of seven on philosophy as well as parts of seven on philosophy

Of his speeches, eighty-eight were recorded, Of his speeches, eighty-eight were recorded, but only fifty-eight survive but only fifty-eight survive

More than 800 letters by Cicero to others exist, More than 800 letters by Cicero to others exist, and over 100 letters from others to himand over 100 letters from others to him