Cicero

Also known as: Marcus / Tullius · Family: Roman · Role: statesman · First appears: Lucullus

Cicero was the son of Helvia. He became an auditor of Philo and a hearer of Antiochus of Ascalon, studied oratory with Apollonius at Rhodes, and learned philosophy from Posidonius. He also conversed with Xenocles of Adramyttium, Dionysius of Magnesia, and Menippus of Caria, and attended the instruction of Roscius the comedian and Aesop. He served briefly under Sylla in the Marsian war, married Terentia, and had Quintus as a brother. Among his associates were Lucullus, Publius Crassus, and Publius Nigidius; Marcus Crassus became his enemy, and he competed with Hortensius and Caius Antonius.

Cicero defended Roscius, Verres was condemned after Cicero’s prosecution, and Milo procured him as an advocate. He was elected consul with Caius Antonius, defeating Lucius Catiline, and ordered Catiline to leave Rome with armed men. He then delivered Cornelius Lentulus, Cethegus, and the other conspirators for execution. At this time he was a friend of Clodius, though Clodia was alleged to wish to marry him; later, Clodius secured his exile. Pompey supported his return, and “Cicero returned sixteen months after his exile.” Cicero’s public actions helped establish Pompey’s authority, while Caesar became his enemy after Cicero suspected his designs upon the government. Cicero wrote an encomium to Cato the Younger, defended Murena against Cato the Younger’s prosecution, and was later reconciled with him.

Cicero was appointed quaestor in Sicily and proconsul in Cilicia and Cappadocia. He was a confidant of Marcus Brutus, defended Quintus Ligarius, and his daughter Tullia died in child-bed. Hirtius and Pansa were lovers of Cicero, while young Caesar called him Father. After young Caesar, Antony, and Lepidus formed the triumvirate, Cicero was proscribed; Antony surrendered his maternal uncle for permission to kill him. Fleeing and hiding from death, Cicero was murdered by Herennius in his sixty-fourth year, and “Herennius cut off his head, and, by Antony's command, his hands also.” Tiro, his emancipated slave, served him, and Philologus, educated by Cicero in the liberal arts and sciences, was present in the events surrounding his death.