CICERO AND THE ROMAN REPUBLIC

The Greeks		\| The Greeks \| The Romans \| Other Civilizations \| Index \|
Mare Nostrum Cicero and the Roman Republic by L. Simmons Cicero and the Roman Republic Works cited		The late Roman Republic was quickly becoming an Empire. It finally ended after many civil wars. Generals and Politicians wanted more power than was allotted by the republic constitution. Cicero was one important politician who firmly believed in the republic. He worked to prevent dictators and maintain the repulic as government. Government of the Roman Republic The Roman Republic was unique in that it gave the people a voice in the government. In 509 BC, after experiencing the corrupt king Tarquin, the people of Rome decided to establish the consul system, which became, along with all the other offices and areas of the government, the republic. These offices included: praetor questor aedille governor tribune senator Some of these were established later than others. In the system that the early Romans set up, people were allowed some say in who held the political offices. Any adult male citizen could vote under the system. The set up of the Republic allowed checks to prevent the abuse of power. These checks were created by having short terms and a least two officers in each government position. Cicero's Belief in the Republic Cicero was an ardent supporter of the republican system of Rome. He believed in "Senatus populusque Romanus," the senate and the Roman people as the core of Roman Republic (Cowell), he believed in the Republic. As long as he had lived, he had prospered from the republic system. His life began in the non-statesman class of equestrians. He received an excellent education from some of the greatest thinkers of the day. His training in oration made him one of the outstanding speakers of the day. He then used his fame to gain political offices, starting with quaestor in 75 BC (The Cicero Homepage). After serving his term as quaestor, he was able to sit in the Senate. Unsatisfied he continued to aspire to the highest of political offices. He became aedille, praetor and then topped his career as consul in 63 BC. The republic was a good system according to this "new man"(a statesman not from a statesman family). The Philosophy of Cicero Cicero had a philosophy that was similar to that of the Stoics. He believed: that true law was reason that good is always good that bad is always bad in traditional Roman values Cicero maintained high moral standards that could only be upheld with a great deal of determination and self-restraint. He wanted these principles to remain being applied to the Roman Republic. He wrote "On Duties", telling of the corruption of moral values in Rome, hoping to make others aware of the departure of the true Roman values. He felt that the corruption was due to corrupt leadership that took away the rights of citizens. He advocated duty to Rome not oneself, participation of the people in government, and responsible officers. Cicero and Ceasar As a Roman statesman, Cicero was always opposed to dectatorship, which he viewed as unconstitutional. When Ceasar came into power, Cicero pitied and feared for the Republic. Cicero was unable to succeed in all of his political goals because Ceasar was in power, so Cicero stepped out of the political arena for a few years. Ceasar had had great plans for Cicero’s talent. He invited Cicero to be part of an alliance that was to include himself, Pompey, Crassus and Cicero(Heicheleim). Ceasar planned to use the outstanding oratory skills of Cicero to his advantage. However, Cicero felt that such an alliance was unconstitutional and refused to be part of it. Today this alliance is known as the First Triumvirate, between three instead of four because Cicero did not join. Cicero is Exiled Soon after a law was passed that made it illegal to execute Roman citizens without a trial. When Cicero had been praetor in 63 BC he had been guilty of this. So he sent himself into exile before the courts could convict him. Shortly after he left Rome, he was officially exiled(Marcus Tullius Cicero). The following year, he was recalled from exile. He immediately went to work, attacking the Triumvirate of Ceasar, Pompey, and Crassus. After the assasination of Ceasar, Octavious and Antony began to take power. Cicero Attacks Antony After the assassination of Ceasar, Octavious and Antony began to take power. They divided the empire and made a truce. Cicero was extremely opposed to Antony. He felt that there was little difference between Antony and Caesar. Fearing that Antony would declare dictatorship and further ruin the Republic with his scandalous behavior, Cicero began a series of speeches known as the Philippics (Grant). In these speeches he openly insulted Antony. Cicero hoped to persuade his fellow senators to feel as he did about Antony. Cicero deeply detested Antony and in total delivered fourteen Phillipics. The effect of the speeches was not as expected. Instead of rallying opposition toward Antony, the speeches lead to his death. He was murdered, his enemies had his head and hands severed from his body and to prove a point they placed them on display. Works of Cicero Cicero was obviously very important when he lived. After his death, after his time, he is still influential in modern society. The reason why this is so, is that he left behind hundreds of letters and several books filled with his philosophies and speeches. These publications offer great insight into the time period and Roman Republican government. His works have inspired many movements and important thinkers. Some of his works include: The Phillipics (total of 14) On Duties On the Republic On the Nature of gods On the Orator On Old Age During his life Cicero stood for the principles of the Roman Republic. He rose up and thrived under the system of the Republic and worked to continue it as a government of the people. He opposed dictators and worked against them, while he wrote to improve the morality of the Republic. All of these things made him one of the most influential men of the late Roman Republic. Rich East High School * Park Forest IL, 60466 This page was created by L. Simmons. Last revised May 1, 2000. \| The Greeks \| The Romans \| Other Civilizations \| Index \|

The Greeks

Mare Nostrum

Cicero and the Roman Republic

by L. Simmons

Cicero and the Roman Republic
Works cited

The late Roman Republic was quickly becoming an Empire. It finally ended after many civil wars. Generals and Politicians wanted more power than was allotted by the republic constitution. Cicero was one important politician who firmly believed in the republic. He worked to prevent dictators and maintain the repulic as government.

Government of the Roman Republic

The Roman Republic was unique in that it gave the people a voice in the government. In 509 BC, after experiencing the corrupt king Tarquin, the people of Rome decided to establish the consul system, which became, along with all the other offices and areas of the government, the republic.

These offices included:

praetor
questor
aedille
governor
tribune
senator

Some of these were established later than others. In the system that the early Romans set up, people were allowed some say in who held the political offices. Any adult male citizen could vote under the system. The set up of the Republic allowed checks to prevent the abuse of power. These checks were created by having short terms and a least two officers in each government position.

Cicero's Belief in the Republic

Cicero was an ardent supporter of the republican system of Rome. He believed in "Senatus populusque Romanus," the senate and the Roman people as the core of Roman Republic (Cowell), he believed in the Republic. As long as he had lived, he had prospered from the republic system. His life began in the non-statesman class of equestrians. He received an excellent education from some of the greatest thinkers of the day. His training in oration made him one of the outstanding speakers of the day. He then used his fame to gain political offices, starting with quaestor in 75 BC (The Cicero Homepage). After serving his term as quaestor, he was able to sit in the Senate. Unsatisfied he continued to aspire to the highest of political offices. He became aedille, praetor and then topped his career as consul in 63 BC. The republic was a good system according to this "new man"(a statesman not from a statesman family).

The Philosophy of Cicero

Cicero had a philosophy that was similar to that of the Stoics.
He believed:

that true law was reason
that good is always good
that bad is always bad
in traditional Roman values

Cicero maintained high moral standards that could only be upheld with a great deal of determination and self-restraint. He wanted these principles to remain being applied to the Roman Republic. He wrote "On Duties", telling of the corruption of moral values in Rome, hoping to make others aware of the departure of the true Roman values. He felt that the corruption was due to corrupt leadership that took away the rights of citizens. He advocated duty to Rome not oneself, participation of the people in government, and responsible officers.

Cicero and Ceasar

As a Roman statesman, Cicero was always opposed to dectatorship, which he viewed as unconstitutional. When Ceasar came into power, Cicero pitied and feared for the Republic. Cicero was unable to succeed in all of his political goals because Ceasar was in power, so Cicero stepped out of the political arena for a few years. Ceasar had had great plans for Cicero’s talent. He invited Cicero to be part of an alliance that was to include himself, Pompey, Crassus and Cicero(Heicheleim). Ceasar planned to use the outstanding oratory skills of Cicero to his advantage. However, Cicero felt that such an alliance was unconstitutional and refused to be part of it. Today this alliance is known as the First Triumvirate, between three instead of four because Cicero did not join.

Cicero is Exiled

Soon after a law was passed that made it illegal to execute Roman citizens without a trial. When Cicero had been praetor in 63 BC he had been guilty of this. So he sent himself into exile before the courts could convict him. Shortly after he left Rome, he was officially exiled(Marcus Tullius Cicero). The following year, he was recalled from exile. He immediately went to work, attacking the Triumvirate of Ceasar, Pompey, and Crassus. After the assasination of Ceasar, Octavious and Antony began to take power.

Cicero Attacks Antony

After the assassination of Ceasar, Octavious and Antony began to take power. They divided the empire and made a truce. Cicero was extremely opposed to Antony. He felt that there was little difference between Antony and Caesar. Fearing that Antony would declare dictatorship and further ruin the Republic with his scandalous behavior, Cicero began a series of speeches known as the Philippics (Grant). In these speeches he openly insulted Antony. Cicero hoped to persuade his fellow senators to feel as he did about Antony. Cicero deeply detested Antony and in total delivered fourteen Phillipics. The effect of the speeches was not as expected. Instead of rallying opposition toward Antony, the speeches lead to his death. He was murdered, his enemies had his head and hands severed from his body and to prove a point they placed them on display.

Works of Cicero

Cicero was obviously very important when he lived. After his death, after his time, he is still influential in modern society. The reason why this is so, is that he left behind hundreds of letters and several books filled with his philosophies and speeches. These publications offer great insight into the time period and Roman Republican government. His works have inspired many movements and important thinkers.

Some of his works include:

The Phillipics (total of 14)
On Duties
On the Republic
On the Nature of gods
On the Orator
On Old Age

During his life Cicero stood for the principles of the Roman Republic. He rose up and thrived under the system of the Republic and worked to continue it as a government of the people. He opposed dictators and worked against them, while he wrote to improve the morality of the Republic. All of these things made him one of the most influential men of the late Roman Republic.

Rich East High School * Park Forest IL, 60466

This page was created by L. Simmons. Last revised May 1, 2000.