Trial Of Verres Flashcards
Civero’s age
36
Year
70BC
Cicero’s political rank
Senator of Quaestorial rank
3 reasons why he took the trial
Hated dishonest administrations
Was sympathetic to the equites
To gain fame
To supersede the most distinguished orator of the day Quintus Hortensius
Who was in charge of the extortion courts at the time
The senate
Defending Verres
Quintus Hortensius
What did the opposition do to stop the trial
Tried to put up a false prosecutor
Tried to occupy the courts with a different case
Why did they try to postpone the trial to 69BC
Next yer there would be more complaisant judges would be available
M.Metellus-would be president of the extortion courts
Hortensius+Q.Metellus -consul
Amount of speeches written by Cicero against Verres
6
Two speeches that were expected
- Had to make a speech to show he should have the trial instead if the false prosecutor
- orator perpetua (speech endless) -Cicero does not give it to save time
Cicero’s preparation
Had 40 investigation days to gather witnesses an documents
-presents the case immediately, witnesses And evidence ready
When had Verres been governor of Sicily
73-71Bc
Rank of Verres
Praetorial rank
-higher than Cicero
Aurelian law made the change that
70BC
Equestrians allowed in the courts as well as senators
Why did Cicero have to act quickly
August-games-law courts shut
Cicero’s speech to the judges
“Almost heaven sent” “gift”
“Gentlemen”
“I am eager to remove your bad reputation”
President of the extortion courts
Manius Glabrio
Trial opportunity for Cicero
Make a name for himself
Opportunity for senate
To keep their good name
Recover lost respect regain favour
Verres’s crimes against individuals
Set traps for Cicero
Stole public funds from Carbo
Disloyal, brought “deep discredit” upon Dolabella “subjected him to treacherous abuse”
Verres crimes against the state
“Sacked the treasury”
“Devastated Asia and Pamphylia”
“His tenure of the city was a record of robberies”
“Long series of thefts from temples and other public buildings” whilst praetor at Rome
“For three long years he so thoroughly despoiled and pillaged the province” Sicily
Verres use of money for the trial
Bough the date for his own trial
Tried to buy judges
“Nothing is to sacred to be corrupted by Money”
Definition of corruption
Dishonest and fraudulent behaviour of someone in power
Ciceros attempts to win over the judges
“Think of the position you occupy”
“Your duty to Rome”
“We” “friends of ours”
“Set right your damaged reputation”
Verres is made to sound dangerous
“Fresh series of criminal plots”
“He proposes to ensnare myself,yourself,Glabrio,the whole roman people, its allies,the other nations of the world,senatorial order, everything for which it stands”
“Degraded lunatic”
Ciceros ego should be trusted
“You will find a certain innovation in my method”