ciceros letters

To Pompey, 5.7

• 62 BC

• Pompey returning from the east

• Ciciero attempts to form amicitia

To atticus, 2.18

• 59 BC

• Just after formation of first triumvirate

• Explains how Caesar passed the campanian law

• Loss of libertas

• Caesar had invited Cicero to join 1st triumvirate

To curio, 2.4

• 53 BC

• Breakdown of civil society meant not successful elections had taken place

• Freedom in Rome has been compromised

• Violence in Rome escalated

To caelius, 2.11

• 50 BC

• Escalating confrontation between Pompey and Caesar

• Cicero gathering information

• Attempts to exploit his political contacts and amicitia for information

To atticus, 8.8

• 49 BC

• Civil war has begun and Pompey has left for Greece

• Cicero feels abandoned

To atticus, 9.4

• 49 BC

• Cicero has to choose whether to follow Caesar or Pompey

• Ciciero is very cautious of violent or illegal action even in a ‘right’ political cause

To Caesar, 9.11

• 49 BC

• Caesar has taken control of Rome

• Cicero is aiming to reconcile Caesar and Pompey

• Cicero wished to position himself as a reasonable voice of moderation

To atticus, 13.40

• 45 BC

• Cicero at this time has been given clementia by Caesar and has been allowed to keep his position and status in Rome

• Cicero believed Caesar had killed all the good men

To atticus, 14.4

• 44 BC

• 3 weeks after Caesars assassination

• Cicero praises the conspirators

• Dictator has been removed by did not automatically restore liberty and the republic

To trebonius, 10.28

• 43 BC

• Written to the govenor of Asia urging him to join ye anti Caesarian cause but didn’t know that trebnoius had already died

• Cicero positions himself as defender of Rome

To plancus, 10.6

• 43 BC

• Plancus was govenor of Gaul, Cicero is trying to shore up his loyalty

• Appeals to Roman values

• Cicero carefully building support against mark Antony