cicero Flashcards
What were the charges brought against Sextus Roscius by the prosecution?
That he had committed patricide in order to inherit money and state.
How did Cicero defend Sextus Roscius during the trial?
He claims they got hold of Roscius’s property by having it sold up as though its late owner was on the proscription lists. Cicero employed his innovative maxim “Cui bono” - translated as “who benefited” - the trio stood to gain the possession of his farms. He also mentioned the fact that a messenger rushed all the way to Ameria (56 miles in less than 10 hours) to announce the death of Roscius the Elder not to his son but to Capito (Capito had fallen out with Roscius and his son many years before). He also asked why Magnus and Capito were refusing to hand over the slaved who were with the victim at the time of his death. Their testimony (after torture) could have provided valuable evidence.
What evidence did Cicero present to refute the accusations against Sextus Roscius?
1) They were savagee and greedy characters,
2) They had motive - wanted the deceased man’s property,
3) Magnus was in Rome at the time of the murder so had to opportunity to kill the victim or hire a killer.
What role did political motivations play in the trial of Sextus Roscius?
Political motivations in this case was mostly fear of Sulla’s proscriptions - no lawyer would take the case in fear of Sulla, and Cicero was warned by the Metellii not to incriminate Chrysogones as it would be seen as an attack on Sulla.
What was the outcome of the trial of Sextus Roscius, and how did it impact Cicero’s reputation?
How did the trial of Sextus Roscius contribute to Cicero’s legacy as a prominent Roman statesman and orator?
90-88BC Cicero?
serving in the social war
What was Cicero’s early life like? Family?
Early life: Cicero was born in 106 BC. His father was a member of the equites. However, being a semi-invalid, he could not enter public life and studied extensively
Cicero was an extremely talented student, whose learning attracted attention from all over Rome, affording him the opportunity to study Roman law under Quintus Mucius Scaevola. Cicero’s fellow students were, among others, Titus Pomponius. They became friends for life, Pomponius being “Atticus” a nickname he was given because he lived in Athens.
What was Cicero’s first major law case?
His first major case was his defence of Roscius on the charge of patricide (killing his father, which clearly he had not done). Roscius was a son whose father had been killed during the proscriptions by one of Sulla’s agents.
What did the prosecutor of the Sextus Roscus claim happened? What really happened?
Claimed that Roscius’s son had killed him due to bad blood between the two, and in fear that his father would disinherit him. Roscius was a son whose father had been killed during the proscriptions by one of Sulla’s agents. The agent then had the cheek to say that the son had killed his father. Cicero won the case, but it had been a risk, as Sulla could have got involved - not the man you want to anger.
