Cicero

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Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman politician, speaker and writer. He came from Arpinum. (All dates in this article are BC.)

Education

Cicero studied philosophy and public speaking in Athens and Rhodes. He described his education and training as a speaker in his book Brutus.

Politics

Cicero was a novus homo, or "new man", the first in his family to reach high office. Even so, he came top of the poll and was elected consul for 63. As consul he opposed a bill about land put forward by Rullus. He also worked against Catiline, who failed to be elected for 62. Cicero was governor of Cilicia in 51–50. Later he made a series of speeches attacking Mark Antony, called the Philippics.

Writings

Between 55 and 51 Cicero wrote three dialogues: De oratore, on the ideal speaker; De republica, on the Roman constitution; and De legibus, on the laws of the ideal state. His later works Cato Maior, De amicitia, Tusculan Disputations and De officiis became popular. By the time of Pliny, Cicero was seen as the classic author of Latin literature and a model of style in speaking.

See also

• Julius Caesar
• Augustus