Essay Questions

Cicero’s “Philippics” are a series of orations directed against what very famous Roman?

The “Philippics” are comprised of fourteen different orations. They received their name because they replicate the form of a similar series of orations directed against Philip II of Macedon by Demosthenes. The target of Cicero’s oratory was Marc Antony and the fourteen orations were written in the immediate aftermath of the assassination of Caesar. The first few take as their subject the more broadly-based theme of the state of Rome at the time. Antony’s replies to Cicero had the effect of making the rest become increasingly more personal. The ultimate outcome of the Philippics was Antony ordering the execution of Cicero who would eventually become the victim of beheading.

What is the subject of the series of orations which Cicero wrote against Catiline?

Lucius Sergius Catilina was a fellow politician against Cicero wrote fierce series orations. Dependent to a significant degree upon evidence gained by Cicero from Catiline’s mistress, the orations began metaphorically and eventually led to the literal death of his opponent. Somewhat ironically in light of what stood to happen a little further down the road, the instrument of Catiline’s demise would troops led under the guidance of one of the sons of Marc Antony. The metaphorical structural of the conspiracy against the Roman government which Cicero would outline against Catiline was that of patricide: the killing of the father by the son. It would be the figurative situating of the government of Rome as the collective father of all citizens and the painting of Catiline as an ungrateful son looking to murder the republic that did much to quickly convince the rest of the senate of the reality of the conspiracy in the making.

What is Cicero’s Last Decree?

The orations against Catiline led to what became known as Cicero’s Last Decree. The oratory against him had led to a groundswell of support against the allegations and the subsequent acceptance that Catiline was engaged in the conspiracy to overthrow by force the Roman republic which had been the foundation of Cicero’s allegations. All the oratory had the effect of leading to tipping point: on October 22, 63 B.C.E. Cicero delivered a proclamation of martial law. This proclamation went much further than merely shutting down the city in order to enforce security against an attempted overthrow, it was an order for the state to preserve the republic against Catiline using any means necessary. The decree was, in effect, a death sentence for Catiline by identifying him as an enemy of the state.