-
106 BCE
Marcus Tullius Cicero is born at Arpinum
born into a rich equestrian family -
Period: 106 BCE to 91 BCE
Receives education in the art of Rhetoric and Philosophy
Becomes a friend of Titus Pomponius Atticus -
90 BCE
Assumes the adult toga
-
89 BCE
Serves as a military tribune
-
Period: 88 BCE to 81 BCE
Studies law and rhetoric, taught by the Scaevola's
Also studies philosophy, taught by Philo -
80 BCE
Makes his name by defending Sextius Roscius
Roscius was falsely accused of parricide (trying to kill father)
Controversial as the main accuser is Chrysoganus, a friend of the dictator, Sulla -
Period: 79 BCE to 77 BCE
Leaves Italy for his own safety
Spends two years studying philosophy in Greece, alongside his friend, Atticus -
77 BCE
Returns to Rome
Marries Terentia -
76 BCE
Successfully stands as Quaestor in the elections
He will serve this the following year -
75 BCE
Serves as Quaestor in Sicily
He is now a senator -
Period: 74 BCE to 70 BCE
Works as an advocate in Rome
He builds up support among the senatorial nobility and equestrians -
70 BCE
Heads prosecution team against Verres, the corrupt governor of Sicily
Verres had extorted money, took bribes, and illegally confiscated property
Cicero prepares a brilliant case and Verres flees into exile before his judgement is heard -
69 BCE
Elected Aedile
Will serve it in 68 Bc -
66 BCE
Elected Praetor
He aligns himself the 'moderate' populares and becomes a supporter of Pompey
He makes an important political speech in favour of a law that gave Pompey command of the armies sent to fight Mithridates of Parthia -
64 BCE
Elected consul for the year 63 BC, beating Catiline
-
63 BCE
Serves as consul alongside Antonius, who is a supporter of Catiline
Cicero repays the optimates by speaking against and defeating Rullus' Land Bill proposed by Caesar and Crassus
Catiline organises a conspiracy to launch and armed take-over of Rome, Catiline attempts to have Cicero murdered by the plan fails. Cicero gathers evidence and makes a case against Catiline and the conspirators
Cicero persuades the senate to pass a law authorising him to take all necessary measure to protect Rome - the 'Ultimate Decree'
Cicero is hailed Pater Patriae and brags about it -
62 BCE
Promotes the idea of Concordia Ordinum, an alliance between the old aristocratic senatorial families and the equestrians
Tries to form an alliance with Pompey, who is fighting in the East -
61 BCE
Cicero prosecutes Clodius
The crime is sacrilege at a woman-only festival presided over by Caesar's wife - the Bona Dea case.
During the speech, Cicero accused Clodius of incest with his sister. Caesar refuses to give evidence against Clodius and Crassus openly bribes the jury to acquit him
Clodius swears undying hatred of Cicero and tries his hardest to build a case for Cicero illegally executing the conspirators -
60 BCE
First Triumvirate is formed
Pompey, Julius Caesar, and Crassus try to win Cicero's favour but he refuses
He becomes isolated and scared that the Triumvirs would use terror to enforce their will
However, due to his 'friendship' with Pompey, he keeps quiet and hopes they all fall apart soon -
59 BCE
Caesar serves as consul
Cicero opposes the Campanian Land Law that distributes public land to ex-soldiers and the urban poor
Clodius manages to get himself adopted by a plebian family and becomes People's Tribune -
58 BCE
Caesar leaves to run Gaul as pro-consul
Cicero refuses offer of a place on Caesar's staff. Caesar and Crassus order Clodius to deal with Cicero.
Clodius uses his powers as a People's Tribune to impose exile on anyone who illegally executed people without a trial
Clodius then passed another law declaring Cicero guilty of the illegal executions and he is officially exiled from Rome -
Period: 58 BCE to 57 BCE
Cicero is in exile
He is helped financially by Atticus
His property is seized and his houses are destroyed by Clodius
In 57, Milo, a supporter of Pompey, decides to attack Clodius
Milo passes a law through the assembly recalling Cicero
Pompey publicly supports Cicero at this point
Cicero returns home to great public acclaim -
56 BCE
Conference at Luca
Pompey was growing increasingly weary of the Triumvirate
Cicero's efforts failed when the Triumvirs came together at the Conference at Luca
Cicero was told to support the renewal of the Triumvirate or else!
Cicero had to change his tune and publicly recanted his opinions in favour of the Triumvirate and their actions
Cicero then, ashamed and embarrassed, distanced himself from active politics -
Period: 56 BCE to 53 BCE
Forced to defend supporters of Caesar and Pompey
Two of the people he had to support were Vatinius and Gabinius -
53 BCE
The Triumvirate had fallen apart
Caesar and Pompey had fallen out and Crassus was killed in a war with the Parthians -
52 BCE
Milo murdered Clodius
Cicero tried to defend Milo but Pompey packed the courtroom full of soldiers and intimidated Cicero into silence. Milo went into exile
Pompey was made sole consul -
51 BCE
Relations between Caesar and, Pompey and the Senate get worse
Cicero and Caesar still stay fairly friendly even though he aligns himself with Pompey more
The majority of the senate want to prosecute him as soon as his proconsulship ends for his crimes committed in 49
Caesar wants to stand in absentia as consul so he can't be prosecuted -
Period: 51 BCE to 50 BCE
Cicero serves as governor in the province of Cilicia
He doesn't want the post and preferred to stay in Rome where tensions between Pompey and Caesar were mounting up -
50 BCE
Pompey had used his political influence to prevent the prosecution of Caear
However, he switched sides and forms an alliance with the Optimates and refuses to support Caesar's demand to be allowed to stand for the consulship in absentia
Cicero returns to Rome -
49 BCE
The senate pass a law disbanding Caesar's army and declaring him an outlaw, Caesar's supports veto the proposal (Mark Antony)
The senate drive the tribunes, Mark Antony and Cassius out of the city. They flee to Caesar in Gaul for protection
He decides to use his military strength to protect his position and leads troops across the Rubicon
The senate pass Ultimate Decree declaring Caesar and outlaw and kicking his supporters out of Rome
Cicero is approached by both Caesar and Pompey for support but he joins Pompey in Greece -
48 BCE
Cicero reaches Pompey's army
Caesar consolidates his power in Rome and is appointed Consul and Dictator
Caesar's army crosses over to Greece where Pompey attacks and loses at the Battle of Pharsalus
Cicero doesn't participate in the battle and quarrels with his brother Quintus over money and the belief that Cicero should have supported Caesar
Pompey flees to Egypt but is murdered
Cicero returns to Italy and hangs around Brundisium and waits for Caesar's return -
47 BCE
Cicero and his brother have reconciled
Caesar returns to Italy and meets up with Cicero at Brundisium and is very friendly and polite
Cicero returns to Rome and sits in the senate but remains silent
Caesar sails an army over to Africa to crush surviving Pompeian forces -
46 BCE
Battle of Thapsus
This battle sees the destruction of Pompeian army in Africa and suicide of Cato
Cicero writes a pamphlet in favour of Cato which annoys Caesar, who writes a reply -
45 BCE
Battle of Munda
Caesar defeats the remaining Pompeian forces and becomes Master of the Roman world -
44 BCE
Caesar is assassinated
Cicero didn't know about the plot but is pleased because he thinks this will mean a return to the Republic -
44 BCE
Octavian returns from the East to claim his inheritance
Cicero and Octavian are friendly and offers to protect him against Antony
Decimus Brutus is appointed governor of Cisalpine and Transalpine Gaul but Antony forces a law that strips him of his command and gives it to himself -
44 BCE
Ciceros attends a conference of the conspirators
Antony falls out with Marcus Brutus and Cassius as he offers them minor provinces -
44 BCE
Cicero considers leaving Italy but ends up staying and attends the senate
He plots against Mark Antony, and it is strengthened when Hirtius & Pansa are elected consuls for 43 BC
Marcus Brutus & Cassius leave for the East, gaining control of Syria and Macedonia -
44 BCE
Caesar's ex-soldiers try and force Octavian and Antony to come to a deal
This doesn't last -
44 BCE
Cicero leads a series of attacks against Antony in speeches and pamphlets known as the 'Philippics'
Antony was accused of being an unprincipled adventurer 'who shared Caesar's traitorous ambitions but lacked that great criminal's self-restraint' -
44 BCE
Antony breaks armistice with Octavian and accuses him of taking part in a conspiracy to murder him
Thousands rally to Octavian after he uses his name and influence to Caesar's soldiers -
44 BCE
Antony tries to have Octavian declared a public enemy
Antony moves with his troops to take on Decimus Brutus near Mutina -
44 BCE
Cicero returns to Rome and becomes leader of the senatorial party
Decimus Brutus is besieged in Mutina by Antony
Cicero accuses Antony of trying to establish a dictatorship -
Period: 44 BCE to 44 BCE
The 'liberators' are forced out of Rome by the Plebs
Marcus Brutus and Cassius are forced out
There is a power vacuum and Mark Antony becomes the leading man in Rome
Caesar's will leaves millions to be distributed among the plebs and names Octavian as his heir
Mark Antony abolished the dictatorship and declares and amnesty for Caesar's murderers and lets them go to their provinces -
43 BCE
Cicero persuades the senate to pass a law stripping Antony of his command in Cisalpine Gaul
Cicero praises Octavian and his army is authorised by the senate to go to Decimus Brutus' aid
Hirtius & Pansa raise armies to take on Antony -
43 BCE
Antony tries to reach a compromise and offers to withdraw from Cisalpine Gaul
But his soldiers should be paid and pensions guaranteed
Cicero urges the senate to reject this
Hirtius & Pansa continue to recruit volunteers, so does Octavian -
43 BCE
Battle of Mutina is won by the Republicans, but Hirtius & Pansa are killed
Antony retreats to South France
Antony contacts and makes deals with various Roman commanders and governors in Gaul and Spain
He ends up commanding 22 legions -
43 BCE
The Republican coalition falls apart, Octavian wants revenge against Caesar's murderers and refuses to disband his army
The troops led by Decimus Brutus defect to Antony and he is murdered -
43 BCE
Octavian wants to be given a consulship, but the senate refuse as he is too young (19)
He responds by marching on Rome and occupying it -
43 BCE
Octavian forces his election as consul for the rest of 43 BC
-
43 BCE
The Second Triumvirate is formally voted massive dictatorial powers for 5 years. The Republic is now effectively dead
The triumvirs draw up a list of enemies and proscribe them. Cicero is on the list, at Antony's insistence -
43 BCE
Cicero is caught and brutally killed near his villa at Formiae
His head is cut off and displayed on the speaker's platform (rostrum) in the Forum at Rome -
Period: 43 BCE to 43 BCE
Discussions between Octavian, Lepidus & Antony happen in secret and they form the Second Triumvirate
Octavian ensures that a law is passed annulling the sentence of outlaw on Antony