Cicero and Rome (Taylor)

on Cicero and the army

the army was not to Cicero’s taste

on Rome in 75

full of political unrest and agitation

on Pompey’s gaining of military commands in his early career

strictly illegal

on what Cicero suggested in Pro Lege Manilia

the constitution could be twisted or ignored whenever convenient

on modesty

not considered much of a virtue

on the defining characteristic of populares

preferred to pass laws in the popular assemblies, rather than the Senate

on the optimates

believed that only the Senate’s interests should be taken seriously

on the causes of Cicero’s success

oratorical skill

support in Italy

regarded as safe by the optimates

on the execution of the Catilinarian conspirators

there was real doubt about legality, but Cicero had no reason to expect anything other than praise and glory

on why Cicero was so pleased with the handling of the Catilinarian conspiracy

all of Rome had rallied to his standard

on Cicero’s treatment of the lower classes

he gave no indication that he was in the least bit interested in the underprivileged classes of the Republic

on why Pompey was displeased with Cicero in 62

Cicero had not used his influence to maintain Pompey’s popularity

on why Pompey did not attack Rome in 62

it was not in his nature

on the primary concern of the equites

not the ideal of harmony, but maximising financial gain

on why Pompey maintained friendship with Cicero in the late 60s

he wanted the orator to help him pass laws

on the formation of the First Triumvirate

genuinely unpredictable

on the First Triumvirate

far from secure at any time

on what Cicero’s refusal to join the Triumvirate showed

prioritisation of his ideal of the state over a safe course

on Caesar’s laws in 59

technically illegal

on Cicero’s recall

his friends worked hard, and none harder than Pompey

on why Clodius lost support against Cicero

the severity and brutality of his revenge

on the outcome of Luca for the First Triumvirate

all emerged with considerably more power

on the outcome of Luca for Cicero

the end of his importance as a political force, until after Caesar’s death

on Pompey’s position on Caesar in 52

they had not yet split definitively, but Pompey wanted to make him uncomfortable

on Cicero’s predecessor as governor of Cilicia

a mix of incompetence and intolerance who had annoyed everyone

on Caelius

the man Cicero chose to keep him informed of the complex political developments in Rome

on Cicero in early 50

blind to the bitter struggle in Rome

on Pompey in 50

accepted by the Senate as the lesser of two evils

on how civil war may have been avoided

the concession of the hardcore optimates

on what Pompey really wanted to be throughout his career

the Republic’s hero, the princeps senatus

on Cicero’s allegiance in the civil war

far from enthusiastic

on why Cicero fell out with the optimates during civil war

poor reception, their violent and extremist ideas

on Cicero’s principles

he could never betray his political ideas altogether

on Caesar’s motives after the civil war

no intention of going back to the old Republic, and no intention of giving up his power

on Caesar during the mid 40s

a practical politician with an almost unique eye for social needs

on the freedom the Liberators desired

the freedom to gain as much power as possible for themselves, the traditional ruling class of Rome

on Octavian in March 44

no one could have imagined he would emerge as sole ruler

on Atticus

always steered clear of political trouble

on Cicero from December 44

the leader in Rome of the Senatorial party

on Cicero and Octavian

Cicero thought he knew how to handle Octavian

on Cicero’s ideals during 43

without think too clearly what sort of republic it would be, he still believed in it

on why Cicero’s anticipated peace did not emerge after Mutina

Antony’s forces were far from defeated, and Octavian would not be sidelined

on Antony and Octavian in October 43

they united to oppose the last remnants of the Republic