Life and Times of Cicero

AQA Classical Civilization A-Level

The Life and Times of Cicero.

Cicero timeline
Cicero born at Arpinum
By Johnny Keaveney

PRO ROSCIUS victory.

Married Terentia

106 BC
80 BC
61
70
75BC
69
66
64/65
63
61BC
79BC
58
79-77
58BC
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Life and Times of Cicero

Studied rhetoric at Athens and

Rhodes.
Elected quaestor for Lilybaeum
(Sicily) gained seat to the senate.
IN VERRES trial victory
Elected as one of the four aediles.
Elected as Praetor
Marcus (Ciceros son) is born
CATALINE CONSPIRACY/
elected CONSUL
Bona Dea scandal - Clodius
becomes an enemy
Cicero declines an invitation to join
the first triumvirate
Cicero suppots Caesars war in Gaul
Cicero is exiled by Clodius for the
unlawful killing of cataline
conspirators

Cicero is helped to return to

Rome

57 BC

Serves as proconsul of Cilicia

(Asia Minor/ Turkey)

51 BC

By Johnny Keaveney

Cicero
decides
join
in
Ciceros
Criticises
daughter
MarktoAnthony
dies Pompey
- he
Greece
during
the
civil
war
Marries
divorces
Returns Publia
Divorces
(Philippics)
to
Publia.
Terentia
Italy

49 BC
48
47
46
43
45
44BC
BC
BC

Life and Times of Cicero

Cicero is beheaded outside

Formia on orders of the second
triumvirate.

THE ROMAN SENATE, EQUITES AND PEOPLE.

Senate (Senatus)

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Life and Times of Cicero

The Senate debilitated or vetoed legislations, not made them. However, certain
magistrates inside the Senate did.
SPQR - Senatus Populusque Romanus. Senate and people of Rome
Powers of the Senate :
1. Sent and received ambassadors
2. Appointed officials to govern provinces
3. Declared war/ negotiated peace
4. Appropriated funds for various projects
5. Control of religious practices
6. Nominated a dictator in times of emergency
Composition of the Senate
Originally the number of senators correlated directly to the number of tribes in Rome
e.g. Only 100 senators at the beginning of Rome.
By the time of Augustus, the number of senators was fixed at 600
Made up of eligible equites (knights) who were selectedby consuls, tribunes and later
by censors.
Not of equal authority, if selected by the censors to fill seats, you had no speaking or
voting rights. Only members with previous office (e.g. Consul, Aedile etc) could
speak and vote.
The two elected Consuls (leaders) changed every year. They held the right to propose
their own legislation.
The Senate was also responsible for seating the 50 to 75 man criminal juries, as well as
acting as prosecution and defence.

CURCUS HONORUM ( course of offices)

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Life and Times of Cicero

Magistrates:
2 *consulschief magistrates who convened and presided over the Senate and
assemblies, initiated and administered legislation,
served as generals in military campaigns, and
represented Rome in foreign affairs. Consuls
could appoint and/or serve as *dictator for up to
6 months in times of emergency when the
constitution was suspended. When their term of
office was completed, consuls usually governed a
province as *proconsul.
8 *praetorsserved primarily as judges in law
courts, but could convene the Senate and
assemblies; they assumed administrative duties
of consuls when these were absent from Rome.
When their term of office was completed,
praetors might govern a province as *propraetor.
2 censorselected every 5 years for terms of 1
years; revised lists of senators and equestrians;
conducted census of citizens and property
assessments for tax purposes; granted state
contracts.
4 aedilessupervised public places, public
games, and the grain supply in the city of Rome;
2 were required to be plebeians, and the other
two (who had more status) could come from
either order; the latter 2 were called curule aediles.
10 tribuneshad to be plebeian, because the office was established to protect the
plebeians from arbitrary actions of magistrates. Hence the primary power of tribunes was
negative; they could veto the act of any magistrate and stop any official act of
administration. They were by law sacrosanct, meaning that anyone who attacked them
physically could be immediately and summarily killed; they could convene the Senate
and assemblies and initiate legislation.
20 quaestorsadministered finances of state treasury and served in various capacities in
the provinces; when elected quaestor, a man automatically became eligible for
membership in the Senate, though censors had to appoint him to fill a vacancy

OPTIMATES / BONI VS POPULARES (Best men vs Favouring the people)

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Life and Times of Cicero

Optimates
Meaning best men of Rome
Political group that wanted to preserve the power of the senate (conservatives)
Example include; Sulla,Cato and Pompey
Populares
Meaning favouring the people
Political leaders on the side of the people
Used the assemblies of the people to further their agendas rather than the aristocratic
senate
Examples include Julius Caesar

PRO ROSCIO
(Defence of Sextus
Roscio)

80 BC during dictatorship of
Sulla

Inventio (Defence)
Accused of Parricide (murdering your Father)
Cicero argues that he could not have killed his Fther as:
He neither wanted to or had opportunity to
Did not have the deprived or vicious nature
Did not have the means to get someone else to do the killing
Erecius could prove that Roscius was on good terms with his father and that his
father never intended to disinherit him.
Dispositio (Defence to attack)
Cicero alters the structure of the trial by attacking other people
Cui Bono? - who benefits?
Magnus and Capito, who had many motives and opportunities.
Magnus and Capito had gained some land that Roscius the elder had once owned.
Cicero began to directly attack Chrysogonus (a freedman of Sulla
He had purchased Old Roscius property for only 2,000 sesterces, despite it being
valued at 6,000,000 sesterces. He gave three estates to Capito, Magnus received
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Life and Times of Cicero

Roscius the youngers lands once he had been arrested, and Chrysogonus kept the
remaining ten estates.
Cicero begs the judges to not all Chrysogonus to rob the name and life of the man
whom he had already robbed of his fortune
This was an important case as it was indirect attack on Sulla, who was dictator at the
time.
SULLAS LEX ANNALIS
The Lex Villia Annalis set minimum ages for curule magistrates:
I. Aediles - 36
II. Praetors - 39
III. Consuls - 42
MINIMUM OF TWO YEARS BETWEEN EACH OFFICE
Lex Annalis was introduced by Sulla, as he believed that the Senate was the best body to
run Rome, and believed that more conservative mature leaders would stop ambitious men
from becoming leader by force (like he had).

CICEROS ROLE AT LILYBAEUM

Cicero was elected as Quaestor of Western Sicily, based at Lilybaeum, Eastern half was
run from Syracuse.
A Quaestor was a second in command to the proconsul or governor in command of a
province.
It is likely that Cicero took the role as Quaestor to get his seat in the senate.
Cicero was well liked by the people of Sicily for his honestly and unselfishness and was
then therefore entrusted with the impeachment of Verres.
IN VERREM (Against Verres)
Who is Verres?
He was from a noble family, but had spent much of his youth drunk and mixing with
bad influences
He acheived the quaestorship in 84BC in Asia
Eventually became Praetor in Sicily

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Life and Times of Cicero

What was he accused of?

Defrauding the consul he was quaestor under
Extorting money from Asia through improper tax laws
Looting temples, especially the Temple of CASTOR
Seizing possessions of innocent Sicilians
Increasing corn tax to such an extent that corn production diminished
Attempted rape
How did he try to stop Cicero from accusing him?
One of the consuls at the time, Hortensius defended Verres, he tried to delay Ciceros trial
to the beginning of the public holidays, where no trials could take place. This would give
him time to bribe a judge and jury to take the case and acquit Verres.
Cicero avoided this by delivering the quick and damning evidence quickly, rather than
delivering the long speech that he had prepared, he wrote these down and published them
later.
Quotes to remember
quae . . .amentia! - what madness

RELATIONS WITH POMPEY

Pompey the great:
1. Elected consul before eligible age - 70BC
2. Nominated as commander of a special naval task force to campaign against
Mediterranean pirates. This was opposed by the optimates faction in the senate as
they saw his extraordinary commands illegal. -67 BC
3. Caesar backed his nominated, so he won it.
LEX GABINIA: Gave Pompey command in the war against Med pirates, with extensive
powers that gave him absolute control over the sea and the coasts 50 miles inland.
(Pompey himself disagreed with this as he believed it gave one man too much power)
LEX MANILIA: the proposal that Pompey should replace Cacullus as the supreme
commander against Mithridates of Pontus. Cicero supported this policy.
Ciceros decisions
Ciceros decision to back Lex Manilia and stay silent to Lex Gabinia could be seen as
opportunism because:

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Life and Times of Cicero

I.

It provided Cicero with a military arm as he had never had command during a war,
Pompeys men could provide defence for Cicero if he ever needed it in the future.
II. He used the proposal to increase his ethos (reputation) while criticising and
comparing himself to Hortensius (Cicero;s rival at the time)
He could be seen as sticking to his principles because:
I. He wanted to protect the republic, and by giving command to a capable commander
and republican, he was doing this.
II. It shows Cicero attempting Concordia ordium (Harmony between the classes) as he
backs the optimates by staying silent to Lex Gabinia, but then supports the populares
by backing Lex Manilia.

Was not a great achievement.

Was a great
achievement

Defeated Catalina, who was from a

patrician class familty, whereas Cicero was
only from an equite class one.
He managed to win despite
bribery and coalition between
Catalina and Antonius.

Everyone in Rome knew

Catalina as a street thug and
was not very trusted.

Catalinas family was

ancient but had fallen
on hard times. They
How great an achievement was Ciceros election
had not held consular
as Consul in 63BC
rank since 380BC,
over 300 years before
Ciceros election.

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Life and Times of Cicero

Cataline conspiracy
Catalina was in a lot of debt, like many other old patrician families at the time .
He had failed to gain political power legitimately by losing the election as consul to
Cicero.
He was also in danger of being prosecuted for abuse of power whilst governor in
Africa
Chronology
64 BC
July - Lucius Sergius Catiline failed Consul election.
63 BC
July - Catiline fails again to be elected Consul.
July-October Gaius Manlius collects troops in Etruria.
October 20th Anonymous letters about impending attack arrive and is given to Cicero
by Crassus.
October 21st Cicero gives a speech to the Senate about the contents of the letters.
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Senatus Consultum Ultimum declared.

October 27th - The date of the supposed attack on Rome. Passed uneventfully.
November 1st The taking of Praeneste was thwarted.
November 6th Meeting of Catiline and his conspirators at the house of Porcius Lacae.
Quintus Curius and Fulvia leaked the contents of this information to Cicero.
November 7th - Because of the information given to him by Curius and Fulvia, Cicero
escaped assassination.
November 8th - The Senate meets in Jupitor Strator. Cicero denounces Catiline in front
of them in the first Catalinarian, urging him to leave Rome.
November 9th - Cicero delivers the second Catalinarian to the people of Rome.
December 2nd The ambush at the Mulvian Bridge.
December 3rd The conspirators revealed in the letters were tried and found guilty.
Third Catilinarian to the people of Rome.
December 5th - The fates of the conspirators were debated. Execution was decided upon.
December 15th - Much of Catilines army deserted.
62 BC
January Catiline marches upon Antonius in Pistoria and dies.

Cicero took all credit for the victory, as was declared pater patriae - Father of the
country.
CICEROS ACTIONS AS BRAVE AS WELL AS WISE.
Ciceros actions.
Brave or not? Reasons.

Persuaded Senate to pass

Senatus Consultum
Ultimum (SCU) as soon as
he received intelligence that
Cataline was planning an
uprising, even though he no
proof.

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Yes, because if the senate

had not believed him, he
would have looked like a
fool and risked his own
career

Wise or not? Reasons.

Yes, because it gave the

Senate enough time to
investigate and gather their
armies.

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Life and Times of Cicero

Protected himself from

assassination when he
received further
intelligence.

No, because it shows that he Yes because there was a

was scared of Catalina
genuine plot to assassinate
him.

Made emotive speech in the

Senate in which he claimed
Catalinas intentions were
worse than any act of
violence seen before in
Rome, and denounced him
to his face.
Persuaded Senate to declare
Catalina and Manlius public
enemies.
Persuaded Allobroges to
trick conspirators into
incriminating themselves
through signed treasonable
documents.
Arrested the five ringleaders
in Rome

Yes, because Catalina had

lots of dangerous friends,
and Cicero knew he was in
danger of being
assassinated.

Yes because it roused the

Senate to action/ No
because it put him in even
more personal danger

No beciase he did not face

danger doing this.

Yes because it allowed him

to send armies against them.

No, because he snet other

people to do all the
dangerous work.

Yes, because it gave real

proof of the plot against
Rome, and inviting a
foreign army into Italy was
treason.
Yes because these men were
planning to set fires in
Rome and assassinate
Cicero.

Had the five ringleaders

executed without trial
straight away.

No, as the had already been

arrested and were no longer
dangerous.

Arranged that his fellow

Consul - Antonius, should
face Cataline in battle.

No, because he did not go to Yes, because he had little

battle himself.
military experience, so he
would risk the battle if he
took command.

Took all responsibility and

credit for crushing Cataline

No, because he did not fight

the battle

Yes, because this could

have provoked an attack on
Rome.

No, because Caesar spoke

for life imprisonment, and
Caesar was growing more
powerful.

Yes because it made him

very popular / No because it
set him up to be prosecuted
later.

Bona Dea Scandal (good goddess affair) 62BC

The Bona Dea festival was a sacred rite, held by the Vestal Virgins and other selected
patrician women - held at the house of the Pontifex Maximus (Caesar in 62)
No men or even male animals were allowed inside the house during the festival,

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Life and Times of Cicero

including Caesar himself

Caesars wife (Pompeia) and his mother (Aurelia) were the planners and hostesses
and noticed a heavily cloaked figure, who they discovered to be a man, however he
escaped unidentified
Publius Clodius Pulcher was the suspected man, however when he was brought to
trial, he used an alibi that he was in the town of Interamna, where his gangs held a
strong influence.
Cicero, with brilliant oratory, destroyed the alibi by saying that he had spoken to
Clodius only a few hours before the festival had begun.
However, a likely bribed jury acquitted Clodius.

The First Triumvirate.

Pompey
What did Pompey want?
He needed land for his
veterans and needed to
resurrect his political career.

Caesar
What did Caesar want?
He wanted powerful
associates to help his
election as Consul, and
needed money, as his family
was old, but poor.

What obstacles stood in

his way?
The senate (mainly Cato)
refused to give him land for
his veterans as they feared
his power.

What obstacles stood in

his way?
The Senate refused to allow
him to enter the city whilst
he still commanded a
legion, therefore preventing
him from standing as
Consul.
How could Caesar help
Pompey?
Caesar pushed Pompeys
land reform for the veterans
through the Senate.

How could Pompey help

Caesar
Pompey had a huge
reputation, and could help
Caesar in the Senate pass
bills. He also had loyal
legions that could support
Caesar militarily.

How could Caesar help

Crassus?
Caesar spoke for Crassus in
the Senate, and helped kick
start his political career.

Crassus
What did Crassus want?
He wanted political support,
which he got from the
equite class, however the
Senate had recently refused
a request from the equites,
making Crassus look weak.
What obstacles stood in
his way?
The Senate refused his
supporters.

How could Crassus help

Caesar?
He could give Caesar
financial backing for his
political campaigns.

The Triumvirate members invited Cicero to join them for his oratory skills and
influence in the Forum, however, Cicero refused, despite advice from Atticus to
accept.

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Life and Times of Cicero

Ciceros exile 58BC

In 58BC Clodius renounced his Patrician status and had himself adopted by a
Plebeian.
He was now eligible for elections as a Tribune
He brought forward legislation that anyone who put Roman citizens to death without
trial should be exiled - aimed at Ciceros orders to execute the five Cataline
conspirators.
Pompey and Caesar refused to help, as Cicero had refused to join the first
Triumvirate back in 60.
He goes to Thessalonica in Greece where a friendly governor protects him
During exile he suffered severe depression, writing to Atticus saying Your pleas
have prevented me from committing suicide. But what is there to live for?
He returns to Italy in 57BC after intervention by another Tribune (Milo) leads to
Clodius casting the only vote against Ciceros recall.
Conference at Luca
Occurred at Luca (Modern day Lucca) in Northern Italy - Cisalpine Gaul (Caesars
province)
Caesar invited Crassus and then Pompey, along with 200 other Senators to the
conference.
Was need to re-affirm the triumvirate as Pompey and Crassus had fallen out, and
neither men were happy about Caesars popularity after his successes in Gaul.
Most of the men of the highest rank and highest influence came to see him at Luca.
These included, Pompey, Crassus, Appius, Nepos, 120 lictors and more than 200
Senators - Plutarch.
It was agreed at the conference that:

Pompey and Crassus would be elected Consuls for the next year

They would extend Caesars command in Gaul for a further 5 years

Crassus would gain governorship of Syria, from which to invade Parthia

Pompey would remain Governor of Hispania (Spain)

Ciceros reaction to the conference - In a letter to Atticus (Att IV,5) Cicero says
goodbye to honesty, straightforwardness and uprightedness after being left out of the
conference at Luca.
53BC - Crassus is killed in Parthia in the same year that Cicero is elected to the college of
augurs.
52BC - Senate decides to give Pompey the sole Consulship rather than the dictatorship as
they fear his power but need him to bring peace to both Rome and Asia.
Pro Milo - For Milo
Cicero attempts to defend his friend Titus Annius Milo from an accusation of murdering
Clodius.

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The Speech:
In the speech, Cicero avoids saying that Milo did not kill Clodius, but that it was in
self defence.
This claim was supported by two things:
1. Clodius had a bad reputation as a Populares leader, and was accused in the Bona Dea
scandal.
2. Milo was travelling to elect priest at a town outside of Rome, with his wife, a large
wagon and harmless slaves (Cicero leaves out the fact that gladiators were also in his
retinue). Clodius was travelling on a horse with a band of brigands - unusually away
from his normal speech making to the masses in the street.
Cicero claims that Clodius had set a trap for Milo, and that Milo had killed him in
self defence.
The truth is that the meeting on the road was pure chance and that battle was joined
by the gladiators at the back of Milos retinue.
The outcome
On the day Cicero suffered from his usual stage fright, but the group of soldiers guarding
the courtroom with their swords brandished made him even more nervous. This led to
him hardly being able to deliver his speech and Milo was exiled to Massilia. Cicero later
published the speech and sent a copy to Milo who remarked that it was lucky that this
was not what was said in court, for he would not now be eating such wonderful
Massilian mullet.
Reasons for the failure:
Cicero was intimidated by Clodius supporters and the troops to control them on the
final day of the case
There was external pressure from Pompey on the judges to prosecute Milo
There were too many testimonies against Milo during the case.
Ciceros Pro consulship
Cicero became Governor of Cilicia in Southern Asia Minor.
It is doubtful that Cicero would have wanted this posting, but a recent legislation arrived
stating that there needed to be a five year gap between Consulship and proconsulship
/governorship. This left Cicero as the only candidate available for the job, and his sense
of loyalty meant that he went to do his duty. Also he may have wanted the posting purely
to hunt for a triumph, as Cilicia was rich with pirates to defeat and the threat of a Parthian
invasion after Carrhae would lead to many battles. A triumph in Rome would boost his
political career significantly.
What was Cilicia like before Cicero?
The previous Governor, Appius Claudius had practically turned the province over to
Publicani (tax collectors) and userers, who made people penniless.
The province only had 2 legions, many men were deserting and their officers were
incompetent.
The rival empire of Parthia was threatening invasion.
What did Cicero do?
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Life and Times of Cicero

Set the normal rate of interest at 12%, it had reached 48% previously
Replaced the magistrates with legitimate and honest ones.
Disciplined mutinous troops and combined his legions with his allies.
Another general - Cassius, defeated the Parthians at Antioch, so Cicero used his
forces to gain victory over the independent people of Mt Amanus, hailed as
Imperator by his troops.

Did he do anything wrong?

Unlike the province of Gaul after Caesars governorship, Cilicia was not changed
permanently, as Cicero only stayed for the minimum time possible, which was just
over one year.

The Civil War 49-47BC

The causes of the war:
The deaths of Julia and Crassus.
The death of Crassus left the first Triumvirate destroyed and Pompey as
sole Consul, this was not the agreement made at Luca, and Caesar would
have felt threatened by Pompeys power.
The death of Julia Caesars daughter, broke the personal tie between
Pompey and Caesar, one which had managed to fix disagreements many
times before. Also, Caesar would have felt that he had little more to lose
by marching on Rome after his only daughter had died.
Pompeys power increase
Pompey was called upon by the Senate to become sole consul after
Clodius street battles with Milo and subsequent death caused further
rioting. Pompey was successful in pacifying the city and the Senate
rewarded him with extending his consulship in Spain for 5 years.
He was looked up as the saviour of society.
Demands by the Senate
Caesar was to stand as Consul after his governorship in Gaul as agreed
at the conference at Luca, but the Senate wanted him to be a private citizen
at the time of the election. Caesar did not want this as he would have no
protection from Cato and other optimates from prosecution.
Caesar wrote a letter to the Senate saying that he would gu=ive up his
armies if Pompey would give up his.
P ompey and the Senate were outraged and demanded that Caesar gave up
his legions or was declared a public enemies - this was an illegal bill as
Caesar was entitled to keep his legions until his term came to an end.
Mark Anthony and Cassius Longinus (Caesarian supporting Tribunes)

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Life and Times of Cicero

vetoed the bill and were subsequently expelled from the Senate - they fled
to meet up with Caesar.
Trapped between humiliation/ arrest and war, Caesar chose war and
marched his armies across the Rubicon on 19th January 49, reportedly
saying Lacta alea est - the die is cast.

The War and its battles

49 - Pompey retreats with the Senate to Epirus in Greece.
The war stretches across Greece, Hispana and North Africa. Pompeian have majority of
victories in Africa and Greece.
In October, Caesar is appointed Dictator.
48 - Caesar lands at Dyrrhachium
Battle of Dyrrhachium - Pompey is victories but fails to consolidate at destroy Caesar.
Battle of Pharsalus - Caesar decisively victorious, Pompey flees to Egypt but is murdered
by the King, Ptolemy XIII
Caesar embroiled in Egyptian civil war, takes side of Cleopatra VII against her brother.
Caesar named dictator for one year.
47 - Caesar defeats both the rival Pharaoh in Egypt and King Pharnaces of Pontus (5 day
campaign made famous by the quote veni,vidi,vici)
Quells a mutiny from his veterans in Rome
46 - Defeats his former second in command Labienus in Africa
Wins the battle of Thapsus against Metellus Scipio and King Juba
Cato commits suicide.
Caesar appointed Dictator for next ten years.
As Pontifex Maximus, reform the calender to the Julian calender.
Ciceros role in the War
After a meeting with Caesar in 49 Cicero decides to join Pompeys camp in Greece.
After Pharsalus 48 - Cicero returns to Italy but can go no further than Brundisium without
Caesars review.
In September of 47, he has an interview with Caesar, who gives him permission to go
where and when he wants.
Cicero writes an elegant eulogy of Cato after his suicide after Thapsus, Caesar publishes
anticato to blacken Catos name but it is unsuccessful. Divorces Terentia and marries
Publilia
44 Tullia dies - Cicero divorces Publilia as she has no sympathy for Tullia
Caesars assassination
Cicero was not invited to the assassination of Julius Caesar
Caesars appointment as dictator for life led many Senators to distrust his motives

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and his continued honours of power eventually led to them plotting against him.
"The conspirators never met openly, but they assembled a few at a time in each others'
homes. There were many discussions and proposals, as might be expected, while they
investigated how and where to execute their design. Some suggested that they should
make the attempt as he was going along the Sacred Way, which was one of his favorite
walks. Another idea was for it to be done at the elections during which he bad to cross a
bridge to appoint the magistrates in the Campus Martius; they should draw lots for some
to push him from the bridge and for others to run up and kill him. A third plan was to
wait for a coming gladiatorial show. The advantage of that would be that, because of the
show, no suspicion would be aroused if arms were seen prepared for the attempt. But the
majority opinion favored killing him while he sat in the Senate, where he would be by
himself since non-Senators would not be admitted, and where the many conspirators
could hide their daggers beneath their togas. This plan won the day."
Even Caesars most trusted friend, Brutus, joined in the conspiracy and persuaded
him to go to the Senate-House on the Ides of March, despite many warnings not to
go.
Caesar went to the Senate meeting that he had arranged, and once again ignored bad
omens, this time from a sacrifice he conducted with the priests.
Finally when he sat down, Climber held him down whilst Casca struck the first blow.
Many other Senators joined in including Brutus, Cassius Longinus, and Decimus
Brutus.
Caesar was struck 35 times. And lay at the foot of Pompeys statue.

Aftermath of the Assassination

1. Julius Caesars will leaves his personal fortune to his Grand- Nephew Octavian, who
also becomes his adopted son.
2. Mark Anthony takes control in Rome. Reaches an uneasy peace with the conspirators
- giving the senate a general assembly.
3. Anthony manages to turn public opinion against the assassins in his moving eulogy
at Caesars funeral. Many of the conspirators escaped from Rome to gather legions in
the likely event of Civil War.
4. Octavian arrives in Italy and decides to become the heir of his adopted fathers
political career as well as his fortune. Pay 500 sesterces to each man that joins his
army - this private army is illegal but the Senate puts up no opposition, as Octavian is
is a balance to Anthony.
5. Anthony attempts to pass Bill to give him governorship of Cisalpine Gaul, which at
the time was in command of Decimus Brutus. The bill is blocked by the Senate.
The Philippics 44-43
I know the violence of the man, I know his impudence, I know his audacity. - Cic. Phil.
6.6

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Life and Times of Cicero

1st Philippic (senatorial speech, 2 September 44): Cicero criticises the legislation
of the consuls in office, Mark Antony and Publius Cornelius Dolabella, who, he said,
had acted counter to the will of the late Caesar (acta Caesaris). He demands that the
consuls return to the looking after the welfare of the Roman people.
2nd Philippic (pamphlet, conceived as a senatorial speech, 24 October 44,[4]
possibly published only after the death of Cicero): Vehement attacks on Mark Antony,
including the accusation that he surpasses in his political ambition even Lucius
Sergius Catilina andPublius Clodius Pulcher. Catalogue of the "atrocities" of Mark
Antony. It is the longest of Cicero's Philippics.
3rd Philippic (senatorial speech, 20 December 44, in the morning): Cicero calls
on the Senate to act against Marc Antony. He demands that the Senate show solidarity
with Octavian and Decimus Junius Brutus.
4th Philippic (speech in the public assembly, 20 December 44, in the afternoon):
Cicero considers Mark Antony as a public enemy and argues that peace with Antony
is inconceivable.
5th Philippic (senatorial speech, in the temple of Jupiter, 1 January 43, in the
presence of the new consuls Aulus Hirtius and Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus):
Cicero urges the Senate not to send an embassy to Mark Antony and warns against
Antony's intentions. Cicero proposes that the Senate honour Decimus Junius Brutus,
Octavian and his troops, and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. Cicero's proposals are
declined; the Senate sends the three ex-consuls Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus,
Lucius Marcius Philippus and Servius Sulpicius Rufus to Mark Antony.
6th Philippic (speech in the public assembly, 4 January 43): Cicero considers the
embassy carried out by the Senate as a delayed declaration of war on Mark Antony;
he believes that it will come after the return of the ambassadors. He appeals for
unanimity in the fight for freedom.
7th Philippic (senatorial speech outside the agenda, in mid-January 43): Cicero
presents himself as an attorney of peace, but considers war against Mark Antony as a
demand of the moment. Once more, he demands that negotiations with Mark Antony
be discontinued.
8th Philippic (senatorial speech, 3 February 43): Because Antony has turned down
the demands of the Senate, Cicero concludes that the political situation is a de facto
war. He would rather use the word bellum (= war) than tumultus (= unrest) to describe
the current situation. He criticises the ex-consul Quintus Fufius Calenus, who wants
to negotiate peace with Mark Antony: peace under him would be the same as slavery.
He proposes amnesty to all soldiers that will leave Antony before 15 march 43, but
those who stay with him later should be considered public enemies. The Senate
agrees.

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Life and Times of Cicero

9th Philippic (senatorial speech, 4 February 43): Cicero demands that the Senate
honour Servius Sulpicius Rufus, who died during the embassy to Mark Antony. The
Senate agrees to this proposal.
10th Philippic (senatorial speech, in mid-February 43): Cicero praises the military
deeds of Marcus Junius Brutus in Macedonia and Illyricum. He demands that the
Senate confirm Brutus as the governor of Macedonia, Illyricum, and Greece together
with the troops. The Senate agrees.
11th Philippic (senatorial speech, end of February 43): Cicero castigates Dolabella
for having murdered Gaius Trebonius, the governor of Asia. He demands that the
governorship of Syria be given to Gaius Cassius Longinus. The Senate turns down
this proposal.
12th Philippic (senatorial speech, beginning of March 43): Cicero rejects a second
embassy to Mark Antony, even though he was at first ready to participate in it. The
Senate agrees.
13th Philippic (senatorial speech, 20 March 43): Cicero attacks Antony for
conducting war in North Italy (Battle of Mutina). He comments upon a letter of
Antony to "Gaius Caesar" (Octavian) and Aulus Hirtius. He rejects the invitation to
peace by Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, referring to Antony's "crimes". He demands that
the Senate honour Sextus Pompeius.
14th Philippic (senatorial speech, 21 April 43, immediately after the victory of the
allied armies of Octavian and Hirtius and Pansa over Antony): Cicero proposes a
thanksgiving festival and praises the victorious commanders and their troops. He
demands that Mark Antony be declared a public enemy (hostis). The Senate agrees to
the latter proposal.
The siege and battle of Mutina 43
Anthony decided that he need to have the strategic area of Cisalpine Gaul under his
command if he was to be able to intervene in Rome with his legions effectively.
Decimus Brutus (One of the assassins) had already been appointed governor and Anthony
planned to use his legions to uproot him.
He kept Decimus Brutus trapped in the town of Mutina.
The two consuls - Hirtius and Pansa, go to make contact with Brutus and drive Anthony
away. They are joined by Octavian with his illegal private army, and veterans of Caesars
armies.
Battle of Forum Gallorum - Anthony attack the small army of Pansa at the small town of
Forum Gallorum. Pansa is mortally wounded, but reinforcements from Hirtius destroys
much of Anthonys exhausted army.
Battle of Mutina - Hirtius and Octavian catch up to Anthony and decisively destroy his
army. However, Hirtius is killed during the battle, leaving no Consuls in the republic.

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Life and Times of Cicero

Aftermath
Cicero persuades the Senate to name Anthony a public enemy.
When the Senate demands that Octavian had over Hirtius legions
to Decimus Brutus, he refuses, claiming that they would not fight
for an assassin of Julius Caesar.
Octavian marches on Rome as they refuse to give him the
Consulship - holds elections in Rome and becomes Consul.
Octavian recedes the amnesty of the conspirators.
Octavian and Anthony reconcile at Bologna along with Lepidus they enter a triple dictatorship as the second triumvirate.
The death of Cicero
The second Triumvirate, Ciceros name is put on the list by Anthony as revenge for the
Philippics.
Cicero realises that he needs to escape to Brutus in Macedonia, makes his way with
Quintus and Quintus the younger to Formiae. The two Quintuss are killed on the way as
they return for money.
Herennius (a centurion) and Pompilius catch him leaving his Villa, Ciceros last words
are thought to be "There is nothing proper about what you are doing, soldier, but do try
to kill me properly."
Ciceros head was taken back to Rome, and on Anthonys orders as was his right hand
(the one which had written the Philippics). When both body parts were pinned to the
speakers forum, Anthonys wife Fulvia, took out the tongue and repeatedly stabbed it
with her hairpin, a final defiance to his powers of oratory.

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