Cicero's Last Stand Part One

Cicero had hailed the Ides of March conspirators as heroes but Brutus and Cassius, even though they had managed to get rid of Julius Caesar had not destroyed his regime. It was true what Cicero had said about the conspirator's plans and actions had brought, "the spirits of men, but the foresight of children." (Cicero, To Atticus, 14.21). Cicero himself had not been brought into the conspiracy because they were afraid he was too weak with age. Now that Brutus and Cassius had already been forced to flee Rome by pro-Caesarian forces it seems that they could have used Cicero's political foresight and acumen. Increasingly the man from Marius's hometown of Arpinum, who eventually scaled the heights of political power in Rome without the aid of legions of warriors or bribes was seen as an elder statesman. One of few men living from what had seemed an age of giants. Cicero was even sought out by some Caesarians. A handsome young man, fair haired, bright eyed and well-proportioned physically came to see him. The man was about eighteen years old and Cicero's most surprising visitor. The young man had also been born in a small town, Velitrae, about twenty-five miles southeast of Rome. His name was Gaius Octavius, Julius Caesar's great-nephew (we will hopefully be talking a lot more about this person from here on out, as he will become a very important figure-both historically and in this blog).

Octavius had learned of his adoption by his famous relative after his murder. By the terms of the will he was now to be known as Gaius Julius Caesar Octavius. The cheers of support and affection from Caesar's men must have had quite an effect for such a young man-who pretty much out of the blue was now a VIP. Even so, he didn't rush straight to Rome to claim his inheritance. First he had called on and consulted with different pro-Caesarian men around the Bay of Naples-I think this lack of typical youthful impetuousness helped Octavian immensely during his rise to power-the ability to wait and think things out-although like I have said, I don't even know if I would consider myself at the level of an amateur historian, much less a big-shot. I hope anyone reading this blog will chime in when they can as the story progresses to see whether they agree with me or not. The reason these men and Cicero were not in Rome at this time was that the well-to-do left the smelly and cramped city for awhile when spring arrived. After talking with the important Caesarians, Octavian had decided to see Cicero. For once, the egotistical (yet lovable in many ways-at least I think so) old republican had not been taken in by flattery. Cicero would have known that it was now Octavian's sacred duty, as Caesar's heir, to have his vengeance on his adoptive father's murderers.

Nonplussed, Cicero could not see how the heir of Caesar could be a good citizen. He even refused to call the young man by the name he now preferred-Octavian and referred to him by his birth name Octavius. It would be a good time to mention that for the purposes of this blog-for quite some time anyway-I will refer to him as Octavian to avoid needless confusion. During his lifetime, Octavian or Augustus Caesar went through four changes of name. Cicero in all likelihood felt very little need of alarm for Octavian's chances of becoming a new Caesar overnight. From Puteoli Octavian was going to Rome armed with nothing more than the weight of his adoption by Caesar, which in many of Caesar's mens eyes counted for a lot, and it must be said a steely determination to claim his full inheritance. What was the probability that such a young man, a novice-who suffered from poor health in addition could survive in the constant backstabbing and alliance shifting that was Roman politics? Caesar may have named Octavian as his legal heir, but there were other tougher, older men who also wanted the prize of their dead leader's legacy-of course the question is we know they were tougher and older than Octavian-but were they wiser? The "unintended consequences" of Brutus and Cassius and the other Ides of March conspirators was probably best summed up by Cicero: "Freedom has been restored, and yet the Republic has not." (Cicero, To Atticus, 14.4.). By the summer of 44 BC the political games being played didn't bode well for a bright future.

Some men toured the colonies where Caesar had settled his veterans trying to woo them and offering bribes. Brutus and Cassius even attempted this, but needless to say they didn't exactly receive a warm welcome from Caesar's veterans. Indeed the men came to the decision that their current status in Italy was too fraught with danger. The would-be liberators went into exile in the east, supposedly to endure what must have been a terrible sense of defeat and loss. With Brutus and Cassius gone eyes turned to Cicero to make a stand for the Republic. However, Cicero getting on in years, nervous and a lifelong civilian had planned to leave Rome also, after much painful deliberating. His plan was to sail to Athens where his surviving child and son, Marcus, was supposed to be studying the great philosophers. Instead Marcus was going through a great inheritance and becoming one of the university's well known drunks. Cicero had hoped to get his son back on the right path. His journey had hardly begun though when he was sent back to port because of bad weather. In port he learned of the painful way his trip was being played out in Rome. Even his best friend, Atticus, said, "Fine! Abandon your country!" (Cicero, To Atticus, 16.7.3.). Cicero could not have been more vexed.

A combination of shame, idealism and vanity-and maybe most of all that it was his duty as a citizen to fight for the Republic's hopes, no matter how dim, made him change his mind about the trip to Athens. Setting his son right would have to wait for (hopefully) a later time. Cicero's life has always fascinated me, a life of ups and downs, failures and triumphs, and this decision must have been the most courageous ever taken in his life. This was not a decision made like a reckless romantic blinded by higher ideals. Cicero had no legions to back him up in this final struggle, but he did have his superlative oratory, political acumen and prestige. When he arrived back in Rome cheering crowds welcomed him. There were two men: Aulus Hirtius and Vibius Pansa, that Cicero hoped to woo over to the republican cause. These men were both Caesarian officers and had been appointed by Caesar as the consuls for the next year-43 BC. Of course the very nature of their pre-determined appointments without elections was an outrage to Cicero, but he couldn't pick and choose right now. Both men were comparitive moderates and had even asked Cicero himself for speaking lessons! The most dangerous man targeted by Cicero was Mark Antony. Antony was now serving as consul, had an army and Julius Caesar's treasure by his side, which he was trying to keep Octavian from getting. Even the nicer aspects of Antony's character-courage, charm, affability and generosity made his seem that much more of a danger to Cicero.

Thanks again so very much to anyone reading, following and commenting on this blog! I have about 22 to 23 pages of handwritten material ready to be typed, of course for me as my handwriting is so large it will probably amount to four to six posts! I will be trying to stay ahead of the game, especially as I have never been so far ahead. I do try to have a no electronic media day once a week but I doubt this affects getting information here as much as my awful typing. I am starting to think something along the lines of a glossary or "background" posts about ancient Roman life on literally every aspect of it would be a good thing to start doing here and there. I may wait until we get past the Battle of Actium before I start doing these. I had always intended to do things about other times, people and places also here, somehow I think it would be a good idea to have much more information ready to go than I normally do before I start other topics and at least until we are through with the reign of Augustus Caesar, which will be quite awhile. If I can think of any way at all to present other interesting historical themes in here before then I will. Peace and be well to anyone stopping by! After all that I forgot-the image is a marble bust of Cicero done when he was about 60 years old.