For Aulus Caecina — 69 BC (eBook)

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 BC) was a Roman statesman, orator, and writer who has posthumously commanded great influence on Western intellectual tradition. Born into a wealthy municipal family of the equestrian order in Arpinum, Cicero rose to prominence as a lawyer, scholar, and political theorist. His extensive works encompass philosophy, rhetoric, and politics, and he is often considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists. His writings have not only impacted the development of Latin literature but also the cultural and philosophic foundations of the Western world. One of Cicero's lesser-known works, 'For Aulus Caecina' — or 'Pro Aulo Caecina' in Latin — was a speech delivered in 69 BC in defense of Aulus Caecina, who was embroiled in a legal dispute over property inheritance. This oration showcases Cicero's legal acumen and his command of courtroom oratory, reflecting his deep understanding of Roman law. Beyond the courtroom, Cicero's philosophical treatises, such as 'De Republica' and 'De Legibus,' have been pivotal in shaping ideas of natural law and republican governance. His letters also serve as a significant historical source for the last years of the Roman Republic. Cicero's work has lived on to be a cornerstone of classical education, influencing figures from Augustine to the framers of the United States Constitution.