Cicero's Letters

to Pompey, 62 BC

Context:	Content:	Purpose:
Post Catiline conspiracy Pompeys eastern triumphs Pompey had completely failed to mention or congratulate Cicero	Warning him about caesar + populares Reminding him of his political victory Consulship Passive aggressive tone: "I did expect some congratulations in your letter on my achievements." The analogy Compares pompey to scipio africanus Compares himself to his political advisor	To secure a ‘sword’ for his concordia honorum Senate possessed moral authority but lacked physical power positioning himself as the intellectual/political brains and Pompey as the military muscle A stamp of approval from Pompey would insulate Cicero from future legal prosecution by the Populares  (a fear that ultimately came true when Clodius exiled him in 58 BC).

to Atticus, 59 BC

Context:	Content:	Purpose:
60 BC = formation of triumvirate 59 BC = JC’s first consulship Rule of law replaced with threat of violence Threat of Clodius Impact on cicero	Shows ciceros fear + dread of his impending exile Political despair Paints grim picture of triumvirs People so afraid willing to give up their freedom Praised ‘young curio’ who openly opposes the triumvirs Constitutional oppression Caesars land law every political candidate must swear a public oath never to alter it Calls them cowards Personal dilemma Caesar has invited Cicero to join his personal military staff in Gaul as a legate Allowing him legal immunity He hates the idea of running away But wishes for safety against clodius	To vent to a trusted friend Express his grief for the republic he saved hin 63 BC only for it to fall into tyranny Loss of his concordia ordinum  Weighing up his survival option Run away with caesars help Aligning with a tyrant Or Stay in rome Preserve his dignitas Be vulnerable to clodius

to Curio, 53 BC

Context:	Content:	Purpose:
Anarchy of 53 BC Unstable triumvirate Crassus dead at Carrhae No 3 way balance of power City plagued within gang violence Clodius + Milo Due to rioting Inability to hold consular elections  Curio is away from rome Quastor in asia No freedom of speech: Triumvirs + mob rulers control the streets No assemblies can speak out against the regime Many letters were intercepted Cicero would have to be very careful	Talks about art of letter writing he proclaiming that he cannot write about politics  As it is too dangerous actually making a political statement showing how oppressive, unfree, and broken Rome has become under triumvirs He urges Curio to develop his virtues Frames his advice as an act of love Bond of friendship	To build a relationship with him Possible future optimate leader Bond of amicitiae

to Caelius, 50 BC

Context:	Content:	Purpose:
Cicero = governor of Cilicia 51 Against his will political standoff: between Julius Caesar (in Gaul) and the Optimates (in Rome) reaching its boiling point Cicero longed to be in rome	Homesick Worried for Rome future + current condition ‘I fear a great war hanging over us’ Panther dilemma: Caelius was running for Aedile Expected to put on a public games for votes Asked Cicero to use his governor powers to ship him panthers Cicero asks for a detailed report of rome Shows the importance of exchange in amicitae	Build friendship with an influential figure Who as adile could champion ciceros interest for rome To gather into on romes condition To show off what an excellent governor he is

to Atticus, 49 BC

Context:	Content:	Purpose:
Caesar crossed the rubicon Invading Italy Pompey did not have enough troops in Italy to hold him off Pompey evacuated Rome To brudisum Caesar offered clementia deeply humiliating  the fleeing Pompey	Blames pompey: ‘Developed caesar’ Feared him when he grew to power Rejected peace backed Cato's refusal to compromise He abandoned Rome Loss of pompeys honor + dignitas	In crisis Destress over loosing faith in pompey  Who he had a lot of hope for Blame put on an individual NOT The boni Or constitution

to Atticus, 49 BC

Context:	Content:	Purpose:
Caesar crossed the rubicon Invading Italy Pompey did not have enough troops in Italy to hold him off Pompey evacuated Rome To brudisum Caesar offered clementia deeply humiliating  the fleeing Pompey The Pompeian Demand: Pompey expects Cicero, as a loyal champion of the Senate, to board a ship, leave Italy, and join the Republican army in Greece. Pompey has even threatened to treat any senator who stays behind in Italy as a traitor. The Caesarian Temptation: Caesar is actively writing to Cicero, flattering him and begging him to return to Rome to attend the Senate, offering him safety and prestige if he remains neutral. He is torn Hates caesars unconstitutional invasion But Thinks pompey is cowardly and incompetent	Talks about writer block He translates his personal situation into a series of abstract political riddles He apologises for being a burden to atticus	He explicitly states that doing this "distracting me from my present miserable thoughts." Asking for genuine help Really doesnt know what to do

to Caesar, 49 BC (sent to Atticus)

Context:	Content:	Purpose:
49 BC Caesar crossed the rubicon Invading Italy Pompey did not have enough troops in Italy to hold him off Pompey evacuated Rome To brudisum Caesar offered clementia deeply humiliating  the fleeing Pompey The Pompeian Demand: Pompey expects Cicero, as a loyal champion of the Senate, to board a ship, leave Italy, and join the Republican army in Greece. Pompey has even threatened to treat any senator who stays behind in Italy as a traitor. The Caesarian Temptation: Caesar is actively writing to Cicero, flattering him and begging him to return to Rome to attend the Senate, offering him safety and prestige if he remains neutral. He is torn Hates caesars unconstitutional invasion But Thinks pompey is cowardly and incompetent Caesar explicitly stated he wanted to utilize Cicero's "advice, status (dignitas), influence, and help."	Cicero addresses Caesar's plea for "influence and help."  He cleverly spins this to: "pursue negotiations for peace and civic harmony."  begged for the Right to be Grateful to Pompey	Flattery for Self-Preservation Carving Out an Explicit Position of Neutrality Desperate, Naive Attempt to Stop the Civil War

to Atticus, 45 BC

Context:	Content:	Purpose:
46 BC suicide of Cato at Utica Caesar declared Dictator for 10 years 45 BC End of the civil war Victory of the battle of munda Cicero wrote cato's eulogy	Mocks news that caesar joined the optimates Because he has eradicated them all	Cicero was forced to bow to Caesar and accept his absolute rule. This private letter serves as an essential psychological safety valve.  It allows Cicero to use his sharpest weapon his wit to mock the absolute absurdity of Caesar trying to paint himself as a conservative constitutionalist after destroying the constitution.

to Atticus, 44 BC

Context:	Content:	Purpose:
44 BC Assaination of JC Ides of March Mark Antony (Caesar's co-consul) quickly seized control of the state's funds	Feels boiling threats ‘Freedom without a free state’ The Senate was still powerless, the city was still ruled by fear, and the state was still at the mercy of warlords with private armies. He praises Brutus and Cassius	Analyzing the Strategic Failure of the Conspiracy Assessing the Looming Threat of Civil War

to Trebonis, 43 BC

Context:	Content:	Purpose:
The Rise of Antony and the Flight of the Liberators Cicero returned to rome + delivered the philippics Rise of Augutus	Upset he wasn't invited to the assaination Critises them for stupidly sparing antony Cicero expresses "great hopes" for Octavian's future	He wants the exiled conspirators to know that the Senate is finally fighting back

to Plancus, 43 BC

Context:	Content:	Purpose:
War of munitia The philippics Octavian marches on Rome.	Plancus had been designated as a future consul by Julius Caesar Cicero bluntly tells Plancus that his official letter to the Senate was a major disappointment Plancus's letter preached peaceful compromise. Cicero fiercely rejects this stance	Plancus was playing a safe, defensive waiting game.  By explicitly telling him that sitting on the fence will permanently ruin his historical legacy and render his titles "dishonourable,"  Cicero is trying to strip away Plancus's neutrality.  He is backing Plancus into a corner where he must choose between being branded a traitor or acting as a hero.