Cicero - 106 BC-43 BC

Marcus Tullius Cicero is born at Arpinum

106 BCE

born into a rich equestrian family

Receives education in the art of Rhetoric and Philosophy

Period: 106 BCE to 91 BCE

Becomes a friend of Titus Pomponius Atticus

Assumes the adult toga

90 BCE

Serves as a military tribune

89 BCE

Studies law and rhetoric, taught by the Scaevola's

Period: 88 BCE to 81 BCE

Also studies philosophy, taught by Philo

Makes his name by defending Sextius Roscius

80 BCE

Roscius was falsely accused of parricide (trying to kill father)
Controversial as the main accuser is Chrysoganus, a friend of the dictator, Sulla

Leaves Italy for his own safety

Period: 79 BCE to 77 BCE

Spends two years studying philosophy in Greece, alongside his friend, Atticus

Returns to Rome

77 BCE

Marries Terentia

Successfully stands as Quaestor in the elections

76 BCE

He will serve this the following year

Serves as Quaestor in Sicily

75 BCE

He is now a senator

Works as an advocate in Rome

Period: 74 BCE to 70 BCE

He builds up support among the senatorial nobility and equestrians

Heads prosecution team against Verres, the corrupt governor of Sicily

70 BCE

Verres had extorted money, took bribes, and illegally confiscated property
Cicero prepares a brilliant case and Verres flees into exile before his judgement is heard

Elected Aedile

69 BCE

Will serve it in 68 Bc

Elected Praetor

66 BCE

He aligns himself the 'moderate' populares and becomes a supporter of Pompey
He makes an important political speech in favour of a law that gave Pompey command of the armies sent to fight Mithridates of Parthia

Elected consul for the year 63 BC, beating Catiline

64 BCE

Serves as consul alongside Antonius, who is a supporter of Catiline

63 BCE

Cicero repays the optimates by speaking against and defeating Rullus' Land Bill proposed by Caesar and Crassus
Catiline organises a conspiracy to launch and armed take-over of Rome, Catiline attempts to have Cicero murdered by the plan fails. Cicero gathers evidence and makes a case against Catiline and the conspirators
Cicero persuades the senate to pass a law authorising him to take all necessary measure to protect Rome - the 'Ultimate Decree'
Cicero is hailed Pater Patriae and brags about it

Promotes the idea of Concordia Ordinum, an alliance between the old aristocratic senatorial families and the equestrians

62 BCE

Tries to form an alliance with Pompey, who is fighting in the East

Cicero prosecutes Clodius

61 BCE

The crime is sacrilege at a woman-only festival presided over by Caesar's wife - the Bona Dea case.
During the speech, Cicero accused Clodius of incest with his sister. Caesar refuses to give evidence against Clodius and Crassus openly bribes the jury to acquit him
Clodius swears undying hatred of Cicero and tries his hardest to build a case for Cicero illegally executing the conspirators

First Triumvirate is formed

60 BCE

Pompey, Julius Caesar, and Crassus try to win Cicero's favour but he refuses
He becomes isolated and scared that the Triumvirs would use terror to enforce their will
However, due to his 'friendship' with Pompey, he keeps quiet and hopes they all fall apart soon

Caesar serves as consul

59 BCE

Cicero opposes the Campanian Land Law that distributes public land to ex-soldiers and the urban poor
Clodius manages to get himself adopted by a plebian family and becomes People's Tribune

Caesar leaves to run Gaul as pro-consul

58 BCE

Cicero refuses offer of a place on Caesar's staff. Caesar and Crassus order Clodius to deal with Cicero.
Clodius uses his powers as a People's Tribune to impose exile on anyone who illegally executed people without a trial
Clodius then passed another law declaring Cicero guilty of the illegal executions and he is officially exiled from Rome

Cicero is in exile

Period: 58 BCE to 57 BCE

He is helped financially by Atticus
His property is seized and his houses are destroyed by Clodius
In 57, Milo, a supporter of Pompey, decides to attack Clodius
Milo passes a law through the assembly recalling Cicero
Pompey publicly supports Cicero at this point
Cicero returns home to great public acclaim

Conference at Luca

56 BCE

Pompey was growing increasingly weary of the Triumvirate
Cicero's efforts failed when the Triumvirs came together at the Conference at Luca
Cicero was told to support the renewal of the Triumvirate or else!
Cicero had to change his tune and publicly recanted his opinions in favour of the Triumvirate and their actions
Cicero then, ashamed and embarrassed, distanced himself from active politics

Forced to defend supporters of Caesar and Pompey

Period: 56 BCE to 53 BCE

Two of the people he had to support were Vatinius and Gabinius

The Triumvirate had fallen apart

53 BCE

Caesar and Pompey had fallen out and Crassus was killed in a war with the Parthians

Milo murdered Clodius

52 BCE

Cicero tried to defend Milo but Pompey packed the courtroom full of soldiers and intimidated Cicero into silence. Milo went into exile
Pompey was made sole consul

Relations between Caesar and, Pompey and the Senate get worse

51 BCE

Cicero and Caesar still stay fairly friendly even though he aligns himself with Pompey more
The majority of the senate want to prosecute him as soon as his proconsulship ends for his crimes committed in 49
Caesar wants to stand in absentia as consul so he can't be prosecuted

Cicero serves as governor in the province of Cilicia

Period: 51 BCE to 50 BCE

He doesn't want the post and preferred to stay in Rome where tensions between Pompey and Caesar were mounting up

Pompey had used his political influence to prevent the prosecution of Caear

50 BCE

However, he switched sides and forms an alliance with the Optimates and refuses to support Caesar's demand to be allowed to stand for the consulship in absentia
Cicero returns to Rome

The senate pass a law disbanding Caesar's army and declaring him an outlaw, Caesar's supports veto the proposal (Mark Antony)

49 BCE

The senate drive the tribunes, Mark Antony and Cassius out of the city. They flee to Caesar in Gaul for protection
He decides to use his military strength to protect his position and leads troops across the Rubicon
The senate pass Ultimate Decree declaring Caesar and outlaw and kicking his supporters out of Rome
Cicero is approached by both Caesar and Pompey for support but he joins Pompey in Greece

Cicero reaches Pompey's army

48 BCE

Caesar consolidates his power in Rome and is appointed Consul and Dictator
Caesar's army crosses over to Greece where Pompey attacks and loses at the Battle of Pharsalus
Cicero doesn't participate in the battle and quarrels with his brother Quintus over money and the belief that Cicero should have supported Caesar
Pompey flees to Egypt but is murdered
Cicero returns to Italy and hangs around Brundisium and waits for Caesar's return

Cicero and his brother have reconciled

47 BCE

Caesar returns to Italy and meets up with Cicero at Brundisium and is very friendly and polite
Cicero returns to Rome and sits in the senate but remains silent
Caesar sails an army over to Africa to crush surviving Pompeian forces

Battle of Thapsus

46 BCE

This battle sees the destruction of Pompeian army in Africa and suicide of Cato
Cicero writes a pamphlet in favour of Cato which annoys Caesar, who writes a reply

Battle of Munda

45 BCE

Caesar defeats the remaining Pompeian forces and becomes Master of the Roman world

Caesar is assassinated

44 BCE

Cicero didn't know about the plot but is pleased because he thinks this will mean a return to the Republic

Octavian returns from the East to claim his inheritance

44 BCE

Cicero and Octavian are friendly and offers to protect him against Antony
Decimus Brutus is appointed governor of Cisalpine and Transalpine Gaul but Antony forces a law that strips him of his command and gives it to himself

Ciceros attends a conference of the conspirators

44 BCE

Antony falls out with Marcus Brutus and Cassius as he offers them minor provinces

Cicero considers leaving Italy but ends up staying and attends the senate

44 BCE

He plots against Mark Antony, and it is strengthened when Hirtius & Pansa are elected consuls for 43 BC
Marcus Brutus & Cassius leave for the East, gaining control of Syria and Macedonia

Caesar's ex-soldiers try and force Octavian and Antony to come to a deal

44 BCE

This doesn't last

Cicero leads a series of attacks against Antony in speeches and pamphlets known as the 'Philippics'

44 BCE

Antony was accused of being an unprincipled adventurer 'who shared Caesar's traitorous ambitions but lacked that great criminal's self-restraint'

Antony breaks armistice with Octavian and accuses him of taking part in a conspiracy to murder him

44 BCE

Thousands rally to Octavian after he uses his name and influence to Caesar's soldiers

Antony tries to have Octavian declared a public enemy

44 BCE

Antony moves with his troops to take on Decimus Brutus near Mutina

Cicero returns to Rome and becomes leader of the senatorial party

44 BCE

Decimus Brutus is besieged in Mutina by Antony
Cicero accuses Antony of trying to establish a dictatorship

The 'liberators' are forced out of Rome by the Plebs

Period: 44 BCE to 44 BCE

Marcus Brutus and Cassius are forced out
There is a power vacuum and Mark Antony becomes the leading man in Rome
Caesar's will leaves millions to be distributed among the plebs and names Octavian as his heir
Mark Antony abolished the dictatorship and declares and amnesty for Caesar's murderers and lets them go to their provinces

Cicero persuades the senate to pass a law stripping Antony of his command in Cisalpine Gaul

43 BCE

Cicero praises Octavian and his army is authorised by the senate to go to Decimus Brutus' aid
Hirtius & Pansa raise armies to take on Antony

Antony tries to reach a compromise and offers to withdraw from Cisalpine Gaul

43 BCE

But his soldiers should be paid and pensions guaranteed
Cicero urges the senate to reject this
Hirtius & Pansa continue to recruit volunteers, so does Octavian

Battle of Mutina is won by the Republicans, but Hirtius & Pansa are killed

43 BCE

Antony retreats to South France
Antony contacts and makes deals with various Roman commanders and governors in Gaul and Spain
He ends up commanding 22 legions

The Republican coalition falls apart, Octavian wants revenge against Caesar's murderers and refuses to disband his army

43 BCE

The troops led by Decimus Brutus defect to Antony and he is murdered

Octavian wants to be given a consulship, but the senate refuse as he is too young (19)

43 BCE

He responds by marching on Rome and occupying it

Octavian forces his election as consul for the rest of 43 BC

43 BCE

The Second Triumvirate is formally voted massive dictatorial powers for 5 years. The Republic is now effectively dead

43 BCE

The triumvirs draw up a list of enemies and proscribe them. Cicero is on the list, at Antony's insistence

Cicero is caught and brutally killed near his villa at Formiae

43 BCE

His head is cut off and displayed on the speaker's platform (rostrum) in the Forum at Rome

Discussions between Octavian, Lepidus & Antony happen in secret and they form the Second Triumvirate

Period: 43 BCE to 43 BCE

Octavian ensures that a law is passed annulling the sentence of outlaw on Antony