Cicero

Cicero (106-43 BC) (full name Marcus Tullius Cicero) was a Roman consul, orator, statesman, lawyer, philosopher, as well as being a prolific writer of books. In the time after the assassination of Julius Caesar, Cicero became one of the most powerful politicians in Rome, and a rival to Mark Antony. Cicero's attempts to rid himself of Antony failed leading to his death while fleeing the Roman heartland due to the alliance of Antony and Octavian. What is particularly spectacular about Cicero is that he was a 'new man'. At that time, the Senate was dominated by the same old, noble families, who were often prejudiced against what they viewed as new, unexperienced upstarts. Cicero, depsite being from a poor unknown family, managed to attain the rank of consul, the highest rank in the Republic at that time.

Cicero is considered to be one of the greatest orators and speech writers the world has ever known and a father to modern legalists and barristers.

Cicero was also responsible for unveiling a plot to overthrow the Republic, and his consulship in particular, masterminded by Catiline among others. In his defeat of the conspirators, however, he set a dangerous precedent; he allowed the conspirators captured in the city of Rome to be executed without a trial. Caesar, among others, was reported to have argued against this by the historian Sallust.

Selected Works of Cicero

De Oratore In Catilinam

Brutus

De Inventione

De Re Publica

De officiis

De Legibus

Quotes of Cicero

"Where is there dignity unless there is honesty?" - Cicero

"Nature herself has imprinted upon the minds of all, the idea of God." - Cicero