Cicero, Marcus Tullius (106–43 BC)

The Roman statesman Cicero was a scholar of Ancient Greek, and it was his translation of Greek thought and philosophy that preserved much Greek culture for later generations. He made an enemy of Mark Antony and was put to death.

Roman orator, writer, and politician. His speeches and philosophical and rhetorical works are models of Latin prose, and his letters provide a picture of contemporary Roman life. As consul in 63 BC he exposed the Roman politician Catiline's conspiracy in four major orations.

Born in Arpinium, Cicero became an advocate in Rome, spent three years in Greece studying oratory, and after the dictator Sulla's death distinguished himself in Rome with the prosecution of the corrupt Roman governor, Verres. When the First Triumvirate was formed 59 BC, Cicero was briefly exiled and devoted himself to literature. He sided with Pompey during the civil war (49–48) but was pardoned by Julius Caesar and returned to Rome. After Caesar's assassination in 44 BC he supported Octavian (the future emperor Augustus) and violently attacked Mark Antony in republican speeches known as the Philippics. On the reconciliation of Antony and Octavian, he was executed by Antony's agents.

Cicero, Marcus Tullius (born 65 BC)

Roman politician and colonial administrator. He was a consul in 30 BC, and later governed Syria and became proconsul of Asia.

He was the only son of Marcus Tullius Cicero, the orator, and his wife Terentia. In 44 BC he joined the republican party and served as military tribune under Marcus Junius Brutus in Macedonia. After Mark Antony's victory at the Battle of Philippi 42 BC, Cicero fled to Sicily, where he joined Sextus Pompeius, younger son of Pompey, but he returned to Rome when Sextus Pompeius made peace with the Second Triumvirate 39 BC. Octavian (Augustus) had him elected to be his colleague in his consulship of 30 BC.