Cicero (M. Tullius Cicero 106-43 BC) was born in Arpino about 100 km. southeast of Rome, in a family of equestrian order.
He studied law with Mucio Escévola and served in the army participating in the Italicos revolts (90-88 BC).
In his first speech he defended Roscio Amerino, attacked by one of Sulla's favourites. He studied public speaking in Greece. He was quaestor in Sicily. In addition, his Cursus honorum from 75 to 63 BC can be summarized as we see in the following sections:
— 75 BC Member of the Senate and defender of its powers. Edil with popular program. He attacks Verres, ex-governor of Sicily, who has to go into exile.
— 69 BC Mayor.
— 66 BC Quaestor.
— 63 BC Consul. He was a homo novus . In the same election, Catilina was presented. , who also wanted the Consulate. He won Cicero, supported by Crassus , wanting to gain Popular support against the possible danger of a return of Pompey.
Crassus and Caesar proposed an Agrarian Law for the distribution of the ager publicus .
Cicero, Consul in charge of finances, had to oppose and won, even at the cost of losing his popularity (opposition and enmity of Caesar).
He later found out from his spies about the Catilina Conspiracy and other debt-laden aristocrats to kill the consuls and take over Rome.
The conjuration of Catilina (63-62 B.C.)
The plans
While the troops of the Republic, led by Pompey, covered themselves with glory in the war against Mithridates, Rome was in danger due to the conspiracy of Lucius Sergius Catilina (109-62 BC), a patrician and Senator, who managed to trick the people and who did not back down from the greatest crimes.
Not having been able to reach the Consulate by legal means, he decided to resort to violence. He concentrated his supporters in Fiésole and put an old centurion named Manlio in charge of them and, at this meeting, November 6-7, 63 BC, it was decided to assassinate Cicero, his opponent in the dispute over the Consulate and, once he was assassinated, the conspirators would march on Rome, set it on fire and take over the Government, taking advantage of the confusion that these events would provoke.
Facts and result
Knowing Cicero of what was being plotted, he summoned the Senate and apostrophized his enemy with the first Catilinaria , which began with the following words:Quuousque tandem, Catilina. abutere patientia nostra; then Catiline he was expelled from the Assembly and from the city.
The next day (November 8), Cicero delivered his second Catilinaria, in which he gave an account to the people of what had happened. Catilina fled to Etruria and took command of his followers, but succumbed at the battle of Pistoia (January 6, 62 BC), defeated by Petreius, Antony's lieutenant, Cicero's colleague at the Consulate.
Other conspirators were arrested in Rome. In the Senate debate over his fate, M. Porcius Cato (95-46 BC) got them sentenced to death, and Cicero had the sentence carried out immediately, illegally, without giving them their right to appeal to the people.
Cicerojudgment
Cicero tried at all times to reconcile the Senatorial orders (conservative) and Equestrian (rapacity).
For having saved the Republic, Cicero was graced by the people with the honorable title of Father of the Country , although that success was short-lived, because four years later he was eclipsed by the glory of Pompey who returned to Rome as a winner.
After his glorious return to Rome, his third triumph was celebrated on September 29, 61 BC. C., he looked for allies and made political alliances, in this way he agreed with Julius Caesar and Crassus, forming a Triumvirate and dividing power.