Cicero

__ Introduction:__ Marcus Tullius Cicero was one of the most significant orators, lawyers, politicians, and philosophers known to ancient Rome leaving a plethora of speeches and historical records of the fall of the Roman Republic. Most of Cicero's writings were on politics, although the times in which he was forced out of politics, he wrote philosophical texts which often had a purpose which was the defense and improvement of the Roman Republic.

__The Roman republic:__ In 509 BC, after the reign of the corrupt king Tarquin the people of Rome decided to never have a king rule over them again. So they established a republic with various governmental structures to keep everything in balance, so one could not rise to be king. In Cicero's time the Roman Republic had become increasingly corrupt and the system was breaking down. A dictator, Sulla had been put into place to unify the country but after his death in 78 BCE the political system was filled with numerous power struggles. Cicero himself believed in the republic and wanted it to succeed free of a dictator or king.

__Young Life:__ Marcus Tullius Cicero was born on January 3, 106 B.C in Arpinum, a small town south of Rome, six years before the birth of Julius Caesar. During this time, the political life of Rome supposedly consisted of important politicians gaining office by winning elections.However most of the high political positions were occupied by wealthy, aristocratic families. Cicero's family belonged to the equestrian class known as knights and although they were fairly wealthy, they did not carry much political influence to begin with.

As a young boy Cicero was interested in philosophy and began studying his father's collection of books. In seeing this new found interest, Cicero's father, who shared the same name as him, brought both him and his brother to Rome to further their education and raise their social status. At a young age, Cicero adopted a lifestyle motto, "To always be the best, and overtop the rest." It is said that he shared this motto with Achilles.

__Cicero at Work:__

Because of his familial disadvantages Cicero had a couple career choices to make. One option was to participate in the military. Being in the military had certain benefits in furthering opportunity and popularity in politics because success often showed important leadership qualities. During the social wars in the 80's B.C, Cicero served under Pompey's father Pompeius Strabo, along with Pompey for 16 years. Cicero soon realized though that a military career was not right for him, so he continued his education in the field of law; for a career in law often led to success in politics. As a law student and lawyer, Cicero would gain much experience giving many speeches, would build up a network of big time political friendships, and finally would gain popularity through the success of high profile cases. In 80 B.C, Cicero became famous by defending Sextus Roscius, who was being charged with parricide (the murder of a close relative). Cicero cleverly succeeded in defending his client by accusing a corrupt official, Chrysogonus, of the crime. Although this trial got Cicero recognition he still had to fight his way up in the world of politics. For in ancient Rome it was difficult for one to go far without established family connections. Cicero was elected quaestor in 76 BC, at the youngest age possible, and was assigned to oversee the grain. Cicero would not take the illegal percentages paid to merchants for grain, that had become typical for a man in his position. Instead on the behalf of the people of Sicily, Cicero built a case against the previous governor Verres for his corrupt behavior in office. Before the prosecution was over Verres was forced to flee Rome due to the strong case Cicero had built. In 63 BC Cicero became consulman and was not popular among the older officials because he was born in the equestrian class. Because of this, the nobility reffered to him as a //"Novus Homo"// a self-made man who was not one of them. Cicero won against Sergius Catalina, spurring a rivalry that would be the undoing of both their political careers. Cicero, being the great orator that he was, confronted Cataline with an elegant speech outlining how everything Cataline did added to the deterioration of the Roman Republic. Cataline fled the political scene and joined the military. Durning his time in the military, Catalina formed a plan to overthrow the senate, known as the Cataline Conspiracy. After the failure of the conspiracy, Cicero charged two conspirators to death, without trial. Although the senate had given him the power to do whatever neccesary to save the republic, Cicero's violation of human rights was brought forth by a political rival and he was exiled. Cicero was never again a main part of political life. He was eventually brought back and invited to join the first triumvirate, but declined. From then on he was overshadowed by the doings of Pompey and Caesar and eventually killed by Mark Antony after the death of Caesar.

__The Writings of Cicero:__ It is difficult to gather an accurate representation on Cicero's true character and positions based solely on his writings because he was open to change a position which he already took if a new one that was better was presented. However, Cicero's writings (the ones that are still with us; some of them have been lost) are classified into three categories: his philosophic writings, his speeches (some of which were not delivered, but he wrote them as if they were), and letters written from him to mostly his friend Atticus and his brother Quintius, but there are also correspondences between him and other famous politicians such as Caesar.

The titles of Cicero's philosophic works are as follows: //[|On Invention], [|On the Orator], [|On the Republic], [|On the Laws], [|Brutus], [|Stoic Paradoxes], [|The Orator], [|Consolation], [|Hortensius], [|Academics], [|On Ends], [|Tusculan Disputations], [|On the Nature of the Gods], [|On Divination], [|On Fate], [|On Old Age], [|On Friendship], [|Topics], __On Gl__//__//ory//__, and //[|On Duties]//. These writings are listed in chronological order of composition and can also be briefly summarized by clicking on this link, http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/c/cicero.htm (under the section entitled //Cicero's Writings)//

Below is an excerpt from one of Ciceros letters written to his brother Quintus in the year 56 BCE, after returning from exile only to find political gang involvment. This letter describes a meeting in which Clodius was accusing Milo (both gang leaders) for using violence in politics:

//On 6 February Milo appeared in court. Pompey spoke, or rather tried to. For as soon as he got up, the gangs of Clodius raised a shout, and this went on throughout his whole speech-he was interrupted not only by uproar but by insults and abuse. When he had finished his speech (for he was extremely brave: he said the lot and at times even amid silence), but when he had finished, up got Clodius. There were such a shout from our side (for we had decieded to return the compliment) that he lost all control of his thoughts, his tongue and his expression. This went on for two hours while every insult and even obscene verses were shouted against Coldius and his sister.//

Another letter which Cicero wrote to a friend when his daughter Tullia (whom he loved very much0 died in February 45 BCE:

//In this lonely place, I don't talk to anyone at all. In the morning I hide myself in a thick thorny wood and I don't come out of it until the evening. After yourself, my best friend in the world is my solitude.When I am alone all I talk to is my books, but I keep on bursting into tears. I fight against them as much as I can, but so far it has been an unequal struggle.

__The Death of Cicero:__ The second Triumvirate was formed after the death of Julius Caesar in 43 BCE and it was comprised of Anthony, Octavian, and another leading politician named Lepidus. Therefore the solitary dictatorship of Caesar was replaced by the governance of three men. The Triumvirate brought up the practice of proscription in order to eliminate their political enemies but also to raise money. The practice of proscription involves publishing a list of names, and whoever killed a man on the list would get a reward, and the property of the dead man would go to the state. About 300 senators and 2,000 knights were proscribed. Cicero was among the politicians on the proscription list and, although he attempted to escape by water, was executed by Antony and an army of men. During Cicero's career giving speeches, he often spoke poorly of Marc Antony, and although he helped launch Octavian's career, he was still put on the proscription list because of his open rejoicing and gloating over Caesar's assasination (he wasn't involved in the conspiracy himself though). As revenge, Marc Antony took Cicero's head and placed it upon the //rostra// or speaking platform on which he gave so many eloquent speeches against Antony. And even Antony's wife came along to stick needles in the tongue of Cicero that spoke so poorly of her dearest husband. __

Cicero's influence on the Republic:__ Cicero was in many ways the center of the Roman Republic. He believed in it, fought for it and thought he could fix it. He believed that by simply elected better people the republic could be saved, that morality and justness must be at the heart of governing for it to succeed. For the most part, Cicero practiced his ideals in being apart of the senate. He spoke out against corrupt officials such as Cataline, Verres and Chrysogonus. He also set an example for others in his governing, by not taking cuts from the citizens pay and refusing to be ruler in efforts to save the republic. Cicero was also a popular senator, being very well liked by the people. He governed for them and in returned they thought of him as savior and center to the republic.

__Quotes by Marcus Tullius Cicero:__ "A happy life consists in tranquility of mind"

"Freedom is a possession of inestimable value" "It is a great thing to know our vices"

"Laws are silent in times of war"

"Never go to excess, but let moderation be your guide"