Cicero and the Catilinarian Conspiracy Marcus Tullius Cicero

Cicero and the Catilinarian Conspiracy

Marcus Tullius Cicero: 106 – 43 BC born in Arpinum, SE of Rome n born into equites n novus homo – 1 st man in his family to hold a curule office n

Cicero: His Family n n n married Terentia (lived to 103!), from wealthy family their children = Marcus & Tullia divorced her after 30 years (had trouble repaying her dowry); perhaps because of financial dishonesty (? )

Cicero: His Family 2 nd wife = Publilia, who’d been his young ward n married briefly n divorced – not enough grief over Tullia’s death n

Catilinarian Conspiracy Lucius Sergius Catilina (108 – 62 BC) n patrician family n supported Sulla and even killed his own brother-in-law (on proscription list) n

Catilinarian Conspiracy n n n ran for consul several times, but never won was even defeated once by Cicero October 63 BC – uprisings in Rome, kill consuls (including Cicero)

Catilinarian Conspiracy appealed to those on fringes of society n offered to clear their debts n

Catilinarian Conspiracy n Cicero persuaded senate: senatus consultum ultimum n n “ultimate decree of the senate” gave power to consuls to suppress threats to res publica

Catilinarian Conspiracy n n n Cicero wrote 4 speeches published in 60 BC 1 st speech delivered to senate November 7 Catiline left Rome to meet conspirators 2 nd speech, to masses November 8

Catilinarian Conspiracy n n n 3 rd speech, delivered to populace December 3 included written proof, which had previously been absent 4 th speech, delivered to senate December 5

Catilinarian Conspiracy n n Caesar, Cicero’s political enemy, recommended lifetime imprisonment and confiscation of lands 5 conspirators put to death without a trial

n n n Cicero hailed pater patriae would later be exiled for killing conspirators stay tuned for details on his enemy Clodius