description Cicero Overview
"Cicero" is a historical biography by Anthony Everitt that chronicles the life of the Roman statesman, lawyer, and philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero. Published in 2001, the book examines Cicero's political career during the final days of the Roman Republic, detailing his famous orations and legal victories. Everitt explores how Cicero navigated the complex alliances and civil wars involving figures like Julius Caesar and Pompey. The biography is aimed at general readers seeking a comprehensive understanding of late Republican Roman history.
help Cicero FAQ
Why was Cicero's prosecution of Verres important to his career?
The case against the former governor of Sicily established Cicero as a formidable courtroom speaker and opponent of provincial corruption. His speeches against Verres helped him eclipse the celebrated advocate Hortensius early in his public career.
What role did Cicero play in the Catiline conspiracy?
As consul in 63 BC, Cicero delivered four speeches exposing Catiline's alleged plot against the Republic. His decision to execute several conspirators without trial brought him the title pater patriae but later gave his enemies grounds to force him into exile.
How did Cicero become an enemy of Mark Antony?
After Julius Caesar's assassination, Cicero attacked Antony in a series of speeches modeled on Demosthenes and known as the Philippics. When Antony joined Octavian and Lepidus in the Second Triumvirate, Cicero was placed on the proscription list and killed in 43 BC.
Which writings show Cicero's influence beyond Roman politics?
Works such as De Republica, De Legibus, and De Officiis transmitted Greek philosophical and political ideas through Latin prose. His surviving letters to Atticus also give unusually intimate evidence about the final decades of the Roman Republic.
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