Cicero

Lore & Background

Cicero’s personal appearance is not described in detail in surviving sources, but his hereditary cognomen, derived from the Latin word for chickpea (*cicer*), is said by Plutarch to have originated from an ancestor whose nose tip had a cleft resembling that legume. He was born in Arpinum, a hill town southeast of Rome, and belonged to the Cornelian tribe. His family was wealthy and of the equestrian order, with his father possessing good connections in Rome but unable to enter public life due to poor health. Cicero’s defining characteristics were his exceptional oratory, legal skill, and prolific writing; he is considered one of Rome’s greatest orators and prose stylists, and innovated what became known as Ciceronian rhetoric. His extensive writings cover rhetoric, philosophy, and politics, and he adapted Hellenistic philosophical arguments into Latin, coining a large portion of Latin philosophical vocabulary through lexical innovation—nearly 150 neologisms resulting from translating Greek terms. His political career was his most important achievement in his own view, highlighted by his consulship in 63 BC, during which he suppressed the Catilinarian conspiracy. However, his summary execution of five conspirators without trial led to his exile in 58 BC, though he was recalled the next year. He later took a governorship in Cilicia in 51 BC, supported Pompey during Caesar’s civil war, and after Caesar’s assassination led the Senate against Mark Antony with a series of speeches. His range of influence extended far beyond his lifetime; Petrarch’s rediscovery of his letters is credited with initiating the 14th-century Renaissance, and his works became among the most influential in global culture, especially during the 18th-century Enlightenment.

Reader's Guide

Cicero was a prolific writer whose surviving works cover rhetoric, philosophy, and politics, and he is regarded as one of Rome’s greatest orators and prose stylists. He innovated what became known as Ciceronian rhetoric, and his writings greatly influenced both ancient and modern reception of the Latin language. He adapted the arguments of the major schools of Hellenistic philosophy into Latin, coining a large portion of Latin philosophical vocabulary through lexical innovation—nearly 150 neologisms resulted from translating Greek philosophical terms. Although he was an accomplished orator and lawyer, Cicero considered his political career his most important achievement. During his consulship he suppressed the Catilinarian conspiracy, but because he summarily executed five conspirators without trial, he was exiled, though recalled the following year. He spent much of the 50s BC unhappy with Roman politics, then governed Cilicia before returning to Italy on the eve of Caesar’s civil war. After Caesar’s assassination, he led the Senate against Mark Antony with a series of speeches called the Philippicae. He elevated Octavian to rally support against Antony, but after Octavian and Antony reconciled to form the Second Triumvirate, Cicero was proscribed and executed. His severed hands and head were displayed on the Rostra by Antony’s order, representing the repercussions of his writings and oratory. Petrarch’s rediscovery of Cicero’s letters is often credited with initiating the 14th-century Renaissance in public affairs, humanism, and classical Roman culture. The peak of his authority came during the 18th-century Enlightenment, where he substantially influenced thinkers such as John Locke, David Hume, Montesquieu, and Edmund Burke. His works remain among the most influential in global culture and are essential primary material for Roman history, especially the late Republic.

Did You Know?

• Cicero coined almost 150 Latin neologisms by translating Greek philosophical terms.
• Petrarch's rediscovery of Cicero's letters is often credited for initiating the 14th-century Renaissance.
• Cicero's severed hands and head were displayed on the Rostra by order of Mark Antony.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"We should never take pleasure in causing pain to others, even to those who have wronged us, but rather strive to do good to all." — Cicero "Equidem ad pacem hortari non desino; quae vel iniusta utilior est quam iustissimum bellum cum civibus." — Cicero "As for me, I cease not to advocate peace. It may be on unjust terms, but even so it is more expedient than the justest of civil wars." — Cicero "They are such fools that they seem to expect that, though the Republic is lost, their fish-ponds will be safe." — Cicero