Cicero
Roman orator, statesman and writer (106-43 BCE): his trials, his consulship and the Catilinarian conspiracy, and his speeches and letters.
Category: Figures
- January 3, 106 BCECicero is born
Marcus Tullius Cicero is born at Arpinum on 3 January 106 BCE. A lawyer, consul, orator and writer, he becomes the main voice of the late Republic.
- 70 BCECicero prosecutes Verres
In 70 BCE Cicero, about 36, prosecutes the former governor of Sicily Gaius Verres for corruption. The case makes him Rome's leading orator.
- 63 BCECatilinarian conspirators executed without trial
On 5 December 63 BCE the Senate debates the fate of five arrested conspirators, including Lentulus and Cethegus, and they are executed without trial. Cicero is later attacked for it.
- 63 BCECicero, consul, exposes Catiline's conspiracy
After losing the consular election, Catiline is accused of plotting to seize power. Consul Cicero denounces him in the First Catilinarian speech in November 63 BCE and Catiline leaves Rome to join an armed force in Etruria.
- 58 BCECicero exiled and recalled
Clodius, tribune in 58 BCE, passes laws that force Cicero into exile over the executions of the Catilinarian conspirators. The Senate votes to recall him and he returns to Italy on 5 August 57.
- 44 BCECicero's Philippics against Antony
After Caesar's death Cicero delivers a series of speeches attacking Mark Antony in 44 and 43 BCE, modelled on Demosthenes's speeches against Philip II of Macedon. They are called the Philippics.
- December 7, 43 BCECicero is killed
Named in the triumvirs' proscriptions, Cicero is killed on 7 December 43 BCE near Formiae while trying to flee, on Antony's orders. His head and hands are displayed on the Rostra in Rome.