CICERO - RELATIONSHIPS, CAREER

‘Cicero was the first [novus homo] for thirty years, and even he, though often slighted by the nobles, may ultimately have had their support’ - had optimate support

P. A. Brunt

Cicero ‘depended too much on the goodwill of the Optimates, who had accepted him with some reluctance.’ - did not have wholehearted optimate support

H. H. Scullard

‘Cicero… represented the gentry of the Italian towns… and had equestrian backing.’ - got most of his support from the equites than the senatorial elite

H. H. Scullard

‘As an orator without authority, Cicero… tried instead to present himself as a friend or ally of the triumvirs, on a more equal footing.’ - tried to gain status via triumvir association

Joanna Kenty

‘The year 63 BC was the turning point of his career: for things were never quite so good for Cicero again.’ - career peaked when he foiled Catiline’s conspiracy

Mary Beard

‘The People responded to the speech with unbounded enthusiasm.’ - stand against Catiline won him genuine popularity

Elizabeth Lawson

The Catiline conspiracy is ‘one of the best known and least significant episodes in Roman history.’ - exaggerated his own importance

Louis Lord

‘War, Cicero believed, was the only way to save Rome from Antony’s grasp.’ - Caesar’s assassination was a turning point to allow him to support a civil war against Mark Antony

Karen Tempest