Eyewitnesses to Civil War Ciceros Letters 12517 Civil

Eyewitnesses to Civil War Cicero’s Letters 1/25/17

Civil War: Pompey Vs. Caesar • Caesar and Pompey were BFFs at one point when the first triumvirate was intact; Pompey had even married Caesar’s daughter • However, they grew apart as the division between the optimates and populares deepened during the 50 s B. C. • Eventually, Caesar crossed the Rubicon with his army and the Civil War began in 49 B. C. • The war only lasted around a year

The generals of this period were men who had risen to the top by violence rather than by merit. They needed armies to fight against one another rather than against a common public enemy. And so they were forced to combine the arts of the politician and the authority of the general. They spent money making life easy for their soldiers, and then, after purchasing their labor in this way, failed to observe that they had made their whole country a thing for sale and had put themselves in a position where they had to be slaves of the worst sort of people in order to become masters of the better. - Plutarch

Cicero’s Letter Writing • Cicero was caught in the middle of this violence. . • He was a prominent letter-writer and letters to his family and friends were published by his secretary, Tiro • 4 collections – • A. to his best friend Atticus • B. to his little brother Quintus • C. to his family and other friends • D. to his close friend Brutus

The Cicerones Marcus Tullius Cicero Minor Terentia (Wife) Tullia Ciceronia (Tulliola) Dolabella (Husband of Tullia)

Your Readings Reading A: To his family (wife and children) Reading B: To Atticus Reading C: Pompey to Cicero Reading D: Caesar to Cicero • These readings show Cicero was torn between concern for his family and republic • There is also conflict between Pompey (whom he was loyal to) and Caesar (whom he feared)