Marcus Tullius Cicero remains the most famous orator in Roman history. He defended the Roman Republic with his words while generals fought with swords. However, his sharp tongue eventually cost him his life. Interestingly, he rose to power without coming from a noble family, relying only on his intellect. Today, his letters provide our clearest window into the chaotic end of the Roman Republic. Prepare to enter the Forum with the master of rhetoric.
Cicero
The name Cicero literally means “chickpea.” His ancestors likely had a cleft in their nose that resembled the legume. Friends told him to change it, but he refused. Instead, he vowed to make the funny name famous.
His slave Tiro invented the first system of shorthand. Tiro needed a way to record speeches quickly. Therefore, he created symbols that represented whole words. In fact, the “ampersand” symbol (&) originates from this ancient system.
Mark Antony displayed Cicero’s head and hands in the Forum. The orator wrote blistering speeches called Philippics against Antony. Consequently, Antony ordered his execution and nailed his body parts to the speaker’s platform.
Legend says Antony’s wife pierced his tongue with a hairpin. Fulvia hated him for his insults against her family. Thus, she stabbed the dead tongue that had spoken against them.
Cicero wrote terrible poetry that people mocked for centuries. He wrote a line translating to “O happy Rome, born when I was consul.” Critics hated the clunky phrasing and his massive ego.
He divorced his wife of thirty years to marry a teenager. He needed money to pay off his massive debts. Therefore, he married his rich young ward, Publilia. However, the marriage ended quickly in scandal.
He was a “New Man” in Roman politics. This meant no one in his family had ever served in the Senate before. Thus, he had to work twice as hard as the aristocrats.
He exposed the deadly Catiline Conspiracy. Catiline planned to burn Rome and kill the senators. Fortunately, Cicero uncovered the plot and executed the conspirators without a trial.
Sadly, he suffered from severe depression after his daughter died. Tullia was the most important person in his life. When she passed away, he retreated to his library to write philosophy.
He never actually joined the plot to kill Julius Caesar. The conspirators did not trust him to keep the secret. However, he famously celebrated after the deed was done.
Romans exiled him for executing citizens illegally. His enemies used the Catiline executions against him. Consequently, he had to flee Rome and live in Greece for over a year.
He hated war and military service. Unlike Caesar or Pompey, he believed in the rule of law over force. He famously said, “Let arms yield to the toga.”
His personal letters reveal his true personality. He wrote thousands of letters to his best friend, Atticus. These documents show his gossip, fears, and complaints about daily life.
He successfully defended a man against a dictator’s favorite. In his first big case, he defended Roscius against Sulla’s powerful freedman. Bravely, he won the case and became a star.
Finally, he died with dignity. When the assassins arrived, he told his slaves to put down his litter. Then, he stretched out his neck and told the soldier to strike true.
