Cicero
Also known as: M. Tullius Cicero · Marcus Tullius Cicero · Tully · M. Tullii Ciceronis
- 1Cicero was a master of Latin prose and a pioneer of Ciceronian rhetoric.
- 2He held the office of consul in 63 BC.
- 3His writings include influential works on Stoic philosophy and political theory.
- 4He was a staunch defender of the Roman Republic during its final period of crisis.
Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, orator, and writer who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises of the Roman Republic that led to the establishment of the Roman Empire.
Connections1
prominent critic of the Populares ideology
As a leading statesman and orator, he consistently defended the authority of the Senate and the Optimates, viewing the Populares' tactics as a threat to the Republic's stability.
Marcus Tullius Cicero was a highly influential Roman statesman, lawyer, and philosopher who lived from 106 to 43 BC. A member of the equestrian order, he rose to prominence through his exceptional skills as an orator and his commitment to the traditional principles of the Republic. He served as consul in 63 BC, a year in which he famously suppressed a conspiracy against the state.
Cicero Denounces Catiline, fresco by Cesare Maccari, 1882–1888Wikimedia Commons: File:Cicero_Denounces_Catiline_in_the_Roman_Senate_by_Cesare_Maccari.pngThe Young Cicero Reading by Vincenzo Foppa (fresco, 1464), now at the Wallace Collection in LondonWikimedia Commons: File:The_Young_Cicero_Reading.jpgArpino, Italy, birthplace of CiceroWikimedia Commons: File:Porta_Saturno,_Quartiere_Colle,Arpino_.jpg Cicero is celebrated for his extensive literary output, which includes foundational treatises on rhetoric, philosophy, and political theory. His unique prose style, known as Ciceronian rhetoric, became a standard for Latin literature for centuries. Throughout his career, he consistently advocated for the preservation of the Republic's institutions against the rising tide of autocratic power.