Caïus Verres became propraetor of Sicily in -73 and grew rich visibly; this is why in -70, after his departure, the Sicilians filed a complaint against him in the Roman courts, for dishonest acts he allegedly committed to acquire his fortune.
Already in a high position in society, it was Cicero whom the Sicilians called on to accuse Verres and make him lose the case.
The trials took place in the forum, before the Roman people. The lawyers practiced rhetoric in order to be appreciated by this public of all social ranks, but especially by the judges who voted at the end of the trial, whether the accused was found guilty or innocent.
The lawyers favored irony and puns, also innuendo, to create an entertaining spectacle while defending their client effectively.
Fifty days before having to plead, Cicero gathers all the information on Verres that he has obtained by going to Sicily, where he also finds witnesses. The trial begins on August 5. From then on, Cicero balances all the misdeeds of the accused in his five speeches:the first, De praetura urbana , explains the dishonest acts of Verres during his praetorship. The De praetura siciliensi recounts his exactions in Sicily. The following speech, De re frumentaria , exposes how he hijacked the wheat trade. With the De Signis , Cicero enumerates the ways that Verres used to seize precious works of art. And his last speech, the De suppliciis , completes the innocence of the accused by recounting his crimes and other cruel acts.
At the end of three days, now assimilated to a greedy madman, Verrès sees his case lost and he flees. The success of Cicero is great, and he publishes his speeches, because he did not have time to deliver them all.
By attacking Verres, it is the aristocracy and the senate that Cicero accuses. At that time, the senators had become accustomed to acquit the nobles by corruption, and therefore to violate justice. Cicero thus accused the abuse of power of the senate and the reactions were effective:the laws of Sylla were abolished and the senate no longer had the right to favor aristocrats for their money.