Page 28 - All About History - Issue 08-14

Heroes & Villains

Marcus

Public speaking
Tullius could have, and Cicero
was one of the finest
skills a Roman citizen

was considered its

Cicero greatest orator

Strategist, philosopher and man of the people,
Cicero’s dramatic career coincided with the fall of a

republic and the rise of an empire

Written by Chris Fenton

arcus Tullius Cicero peeked out of his a skilled litigator, he also wooed the crowds gathered
covered litter to check if he was being at public court hearings with his oratory skills, and
followed. He was sweating, his heart was became famous as a man who could win any legal
pounding and he looked nervous. It was not case he took on.
M the first time he was on the run from the Representing landowners and provincial merchants
authorities. The Roman Republic he had dedicated gave Cicero a firm understanding of the law but wasn’t
his whole life to protect had betrayed him once again enough for his burgeoning ego. Therefore, when he
and this time there would be no reprieve. Out of the was asked to prosecute a case involving Gaius Verres,
corner of his eye, he saw two armed soldiers a greedy Roman governor who had oppressed
strolling towards the slaves carrying the and intimidated the people of Sicily, he
litter. They called him by name and Cicero saw an opportunity to ascent to the
told the slaves to stop; Cicero knew place where he had always wanted
he had only moments to live. He was more to go; Rome. He was taking an
regarded the men solemnly and than aware of awful risk though as Verres had
declared: “There is nothing proper his enemies. At the hired Rome’s foremost lawyer to
about what you are doing, soldier, consular elections in 63 defend him, Quintus Hortalus.
but do try to kill me properly.” He If the young and inexperienced
bowed his head out and waited BCE he wore armour Cicero lost against him he would
for the killing blow. underneath be finished. He diligently prepared
With no influence within the his toga his case, spending hours working on
senate, forum or any connections to every inflection of his voice and action
the patronage network of the Patrician, of his body to make sure he came across
Cicero’s family languished in obscurity before he as the best orator ever heard. He knew only the
came of age. Residing in the town of Arpinum, Cicero best would do, as the case was going to the Forum in
attended schools to improve his lot and his father Rome, the centre of imperial Roman justice.
insisted he should make something of himself within The preparation paid off. Not only did he win the
Roman politics. He learned Greek and studied the case, he was guaranteed a place as a magistrate in the
philosophies and teachings of Plato and Archimedes; Roman cursus honorum, one of the most respected
in Roman culture this knowledge was required to be levels of government. He continued to fly through the
considered capable of leading Rome’s political and ranks of public office, thriving on the adventure that
military elite. He was a diligent student, even visiting encompassed life while working high-profile cases. He
Greece to discover the secrets of their philosophical fell in love with the glamour of addressing the people
ideals. As he gained a reputation in the provinces as from the plinths of the Roman Forum.
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