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  106 - Jan 2, born at Aprium, about 60 miles southeast of Rome 102 - Brother Quintus is born 90 - Cicero assumes the cloak of manhood where young men are publicly examined to make sure he is really a man. At this time Cicero was already showing his skills as a child prodigy 91-89 - The Social Wars - the Italians fought for their citizenship. This was happening during Cicero's teenage years. He himself is born of an Italian family. Though he fought under Pompey. 81 - Cicero delivers his first speech, which impressed many. However war is looming in the background, that is the civil war between Gaius Marius and Cornelius Sulla.
60 - The First Triumvirate is formed of Julius Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus. Cicero is asked to join, but he honorably refused. 58 - Caesar wished to get rid of him for a time so he passed a law that was enforced ex post facto. Clodius then prosecutes Cicero and drives him into exile. Cicero was convicted because he didn't put everyone who was involved in the Catilina conspiracy through a trial before they were executed. In the same year, the First Triumvirate freed themselves of Cato the Younger by sending him to be a governor at Cyprus because they could find nothing to charge him with. (Because Cato is so damn boring I think) 57 - Law or recall of Cicero passed. He came back to Rome and was not happy to find that Clodius had harassed his wife and children while he was gone. 56 - Cicero delivers a speech in defense of Marcus Caelius Rufus. A young man who was accused by Clodia, sister of Clodius, because he had ended the love affair with her. 53 - Crassus and the Roman army is defeated in Syria. Both Crassus and his son were beheaded. Cicero co-opted into college of augurs. 49 - Caesar crosses the Rubicon signaling the beginning of civil war 48 - Pompey is defeated at the battle of Pharsalus 46 - Cato the Younger commits suicide. He attempts twice and finally succeeds on the third try. (This is kind of pathetic really... I mean, sure he was determined to die, but he was a little inapt to have to do it three times)Cicero divorces Terentia and marries a younger woman. 45 - Tullia dies in child birth. Cicero divorces his new wife because she can not console him. 44 - Caesar is assissinated. Cicero was not involved but he spoke out against Mark Antony, Caesar's best friend. 43 - Octavian elected consul. The Second Triumvirate forms. Cicero's brother Quintus and son are killed during proscriptions. Cicero himself is killed and his head was given to Mark Antony and his
wife Octavia.
Historians often differ on their view of Cicero, and they tend to
have very strong opinions on his importance or his foolishness. Perhaps
it is because we know more about Cicero than any other person in antiquity. He left us numerous personal letters that allow us to
peer into his innermost soul. And I believe it is for that reason,
that some choose to judge him so harshly. In many ways, he was the
hero who lost the fight for the Republic. Perhaps because of modern
day Romanticism I see him as the tragic hero who fought a good battle,
but ultimately lost to forces that he could not control. Yes, perhaps
he valued the art of rhetoric too much, he was somewhat arrogant, but above
all he was human, and a good man. Because we see him in his most
private moments we see his self doubt, and his weakness. Perhaps
that makes us into harsher judges. I think we want to make him a
hero because we want to believe that he of all people could have saved
the Republic, and in failing, he falls from the ideal of a true hero. However,
as able as Cicero was, he could not turn back centuries of history. The Roman Republic had already grown decadent. Since the fall of
Carthage, Rome had been plagued by internal battles for glory, wealth,
and power. Many men fought against the coming waves of change. The Gracchi fought and lost their lives, as did Cicero and Cato. Yet none could turn back the wave of Empire because Rome had been unwilling
to change for over a hundred years. To Cicero's credit, he was honorable. When he was asked to join the Triumvirate, he declined. When Caesar
tried to appease him by offering him a province he also declined, and was
in turn exiled. Even Cato had been less stubborn and accepted governorship
of Cyprus to be force away to Rome. However Cicero's death was not
as dramatic as Cato's as he did not attempt to kill himself three times. Perhaps he would have, we will never know.
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