Cicero
The Roman Republic's greatest orator, whose passionate defense of law and liberty cost him his life but preserved his words for millennia.
Born -106 (age 2132)·Roman statesman and lawyer (106–43 BC)·Birthday: January 3
Biography
Marcus Tullius Cicero was a 'new man' from the Italian countryside who used his formidable intellect and eloquence to climb the rigid ladder of Roman politics, reaching the consulship in 63 BC. His political career was a relentless, often lonely, campaign to uphold the traditions of the Senate and the rule of law against the rising tide of military strongmen like Julius Caesar. Cicero’s true legacy, however, was written down. His speeches, letters, and philosophical treatises—composed in a lucid, rhythmic Latin he perfected—created the model for Western prose. When the Republic finally fell, murdered on the orders of Mark Antony, Cicero's hands and head were displayed in the Forum. Yet the violence meant to silence him failed; his writings survived to transmit Republican ideals, the philosophy of Greece, and the very texture of Roman life to the Renaissance and the modern world.
#1 When Cicero Was Born
The biggest hits of -106
Cicero's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
-106Born
-101Started school
-93Became a teenager
-90Could drive
-88Could vote
-85Turned 21
-76Turned 30
-66Turned 40
-56Turned 50
-46Turned 60
-36Turned 70
-26Turned 80
2026Age 2132 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Uncovered and suppressed the Catilinarian Conspiracy during his consulship, saving the Roman Republic from overthrow.
- Authored over 900 surviving letters that provide an unparalleled eyewitness account of the fall of the Roman Republic.
- Wrote foundational philosophical works like 'On the Republic' and 'On Duties,' introducing Greek philosophy to Roman audiences.
- Developed the principles of Ciceronian rhetoric, which shaped European education and prose style for over 1,500 years.
Did You Know?
The word 'cicada' is derived from the Latin 'cicada,' and a pun on his name (Cicero) was that it meant 'chickpea.'
His brother, Quintus Tullius Cicero, wrote a famous handbook on electioneering for him.
Cicero's execution was part of the proscriptions of the Second Triumvirate; his head and hands were nailed to the Rostra in the Forum.
He introduced the Greek philosophical terms 'quality,' 'individual,' 'vacuum,' and 'moral' into Latin.
“The safety of the people shall be the highest law.”
