Verres

When was the Verres trial?

70

Trial layout

1. Iudex/Judge - Gabrio

2. senatorial jury

3. 3x prosecution - Cicero

4. 3x defense counsel - Q. Hortensius

   defendant - Cn. Verres

5. halo/corona of public audience

Sabotage attempts to hinder the trial (3)

• Q. Caecilius Niger tried to apply for prosecution to give weaker argument and Verres set free

• tried to move trial to next year when Verres’s allies would’ve had higher ranking positions

  • tried to get trial postponed due to series of upcoming festivals and celebrations

• fake trial of fake non-descript governor of Achaia which would’ve taken priority and time

What crimes was Verres being accused of? (4)

• corruption as governor/abuse of power

• failure to protect citizens

• had citizens killed like non-Romans

• sexual misconduct

Reasons for Cicero to take the case (5)

• establish his principles of anti-corruption

• would be aedile next year (games & grains) → would be useful to get discount from Sicilians

• high profile case → help establish his name in Roman law

• attacking corrupt senators allowed him to align himself with reformers (e.g. Pompey)

• display his skill to potentially get more rich customers - novus homo so needed money and auctoritas

Cicero context

• To whom was he married? Why?

• What two styles of oratory did he mix?

• When was he elected quaestor?

• By which famous orator was he taught?

• What kind of man was he?

1. Terentia for her money and connections

2. traditional Roman and new Mediterranean

3. 78

4. Apollonius of Rhodes

5. Novus Homo - not from Rome

In what court did the trial take place?

Extortion

How many days was Cicero given to collect evidence? How many did he actually use?

110, 50

Oratorical techniques used in the speech (8)

• apostrophe

• tricolon/triadic and tetradic lists

• a-/polysyndeton

• flattery of the jury

• hyperbole

• evocation of Roman values (gods and ancestors)

• theatrics

• praetertio

What upcoming law did Cicero use to threaten the jury? What did the law change?

Lex Aurelius Cotta - all-senatorial jury → 1/3 senators 1/3 equites 1/3 tribuni aerarii

How did Cicero conduct the trial differently than usual?

Gave his speech then immediately brought forth witnesses and evidence

What were the outcomes and consequences of the trial? (5)

• Verres fled on day 4 of the trial before Hortensius could give a defense

• Verres convicted in absentia 20th September

• Sicilians did not get back the entire 40 million sesterces they were owed but still happy

• Sicilians gave Cicero discount on grain

• Defeating Hortensius made Cicero Rome’s biggest oratorical star