The Romans - Timelines

106 BC	Marcus Tullius Cicero born at Arpinum 3 January
c.104	His brother Quintus born.
c.94-90	Education in philosophy and rhetoric.
c.90	Serves in the army in the Social War under Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo, father of Pompey the Great.
c.89	Studies law under Quintus Mucius Scaevola and Scaevola’s cousin of the same name.
88-82	Civil unrest.
82-79	Dictatorship of Sulla.
81	Cicero’s first case, Pro Quinctio.
80/79	Marries Terentia. They have two children, Tullia (b. c.78) and Marcus Tullius Cicero (b. 65).
79	Successfully defends Sextus Roscius Amerinus against a charge of parricide (Pro Roscio Amerino).
79-77	Travels in Greece and the eastern Mediterranean.
75	Quaestor in Sicily. Now qualifies to sit in the senate.
70	First consulship of Crassus and Pompey. Cicero successfully prosecutes Verres for extortion.
69	Aedile.
68	Surviving correspondence with Atticus begins.
66	Praetor. Delivers De Imperio Gn. Pompei, supporting the transfer of the command against Mithridates to Pompey. Foregoes a provincial governorship in order to prepare for the consular election for 63.
63	Consul, with Gaius Antonius, whose acquiescence Cicero buys by ceding to him the governorship of Macedonia for the following year. Conspiracy of Catiline, and execution of its leaders. Cicero delivers Pro Murena, in defence of one of the consuls for 62 who had been accused by Cato of rigging the polls.
62	Tullia marries Gaius Calpurnius Piso Frugi, to whom she had been betrothed in 67. Pompey returns to Italy. Bona Dea affair.
61	Caesar is governor in Spain.
60	“First Triumvirate”, in which Cicero refuses to participate.
59	Caesar is consul.
58	Clodius is tribune of the people. Cicero declared an exile.
58-49	Caesar in Gaul.
57	Cicero returns from exile.
56	Death of Piso Frugi. Renewal of “First Triumvirate”. Cicero delivers in the senate De Provinciis Consularibus, in favour of Caesar.
55	Second consulship of Crassus and Pompey. Tullia marries Furius Crassipes. Cicero publishes De Oratore, on rhetoric, and In Pisonem, a speech attacking Calpurnius Piso, Caesar’s father-in-law.
53	Death of Crassus in Parthia. Cicero elected to college of augurs.
52	Death of Clodius. Pro Milone is the speech Cicero failed to deliver at the trial of Milo for the murder. Pompey is sole consul. Divorce of Tullia and Crassipes.
51	Cicero publishes De Re Publica (On the Republic). Is governor of Cilicia from summer 51 to summer 50.
50	Tullia, against her father’s judgment, marries Cornelius Dolabella.
49	Caesar crosses Rubicon 11 January. Beginning of civil war. After a personal meeting with Caesar 28 March, Cicero decides not to attend the session of the senate which Caesar has called in Rome, and subsequently joins the camp of Pompey in Greece.
48	Defeat and subsequent murder of Pompey. Caesar appointed dictator. In October Cicero returns to Italy, but on the orders of Mark Antony can go no farther than Brundisium.
47	In September he meets Caesar, who gives him permission to go where and when he likes.
46	Suicide of Cato, on whom Cicero writes an eloquent eulogy. Caesar’s rebuttal, Anticato, strives unsuccessfully to blacken Cato’s name. Cicero divorces Terentia and marries Publilia, a teenager with money who is his ward.
46-44	Writings include Brutus, a dialogue on orators and oratory, Consolatio, on the deaths of great men, Academica, on the philosophical doctrines of the Greek Academy, Tusculanae Disputationes, on happiness, De Natura Deorum, on the gods, De Fato (On Destiny), and the essays De Senectute (On Old Age), De Amicitia (On Friendship), and De Officiis (On Duty).
45	Death of Tullia. Cicero divorces Publilia.
44	Assassination of Caesar.
44-43	Cicero delivers his “Philippics” against Mark Antony.
43	Second Triumvirate orders the death of Cicero.