Climbing the 'Cursus Honorum'
After the Trial of Sextus Roscius
In 79 BC, Cicero married Terentia, a woman from a wealthy family with a good political background. She was strong-willed which would aide Cicero in his political career and would protect his family's position in the hieracy. He also left Rome for Rhodes as he feared for his life after having annoyed Sulla and was suffering a spate of ill health. Whilst in Greece, he spent time improving his rhetorical skills. After news of Sulla's death reached Cicero, he returned to Rome in 77 BC; he did this because the fears over his personal safety had faded and he needed to enter politics quickly and gain support as he was a 'novus homo' ('New Man').
After the Trial of Verres
As Aedile, in 69 BC, Cicero staged festivals and the Great Roman Games, using Sicilian clients to lower food prices. Through this, and his domination as a public speaker, he became a household name so his reputation would have spread.
Cicero canvassed support from the important classes of Rome. Cicero flattered the equites by overstating their role and importance in the Republic. He was supported by his clientela (people he had represented) by being left approximately twenty million sesterces in wills. Cicero marred his daughter, Tullia, to Caius Calpurnius Piso Frugi, an Optimates senator whose grandfather had been consul in the time of the Gracchi. Cicero's policies and beliefs (ie. the importance of the survival of the Republic and protection of the senate) put him fundamentally as an Optimates, who he attempted to appease on the Assembly ground. Furthermore, he sided with the Optimates when Crassus proposed the annexation of Egypt, ensuring their support. However, Cicero also allied himself with Pompey, a powerful Populares. Cicero recognised the need for reconciliation with the Populares due to the social and political problems of the time so he attempted to be on good terms on the Assembly ground. Cicero also backed Pompey to replace Lucullus in the campaign aganst Mithridates in the East. In 66 BC, Cicero was appointed as praetor urbanus and was still in demand as an advocate where he specialised in two types of case; improper influencing of voters and extortion in government.
Cicero canvassed support from the important classes of Rome. Cicero flattered the equites by overstating their role and importance in the Republic. He was supported by his clientela (people he had represented) by being left approximately twenty million sesterces in wills. Cicero marred his daughter, Tullia, to Caius Calpurnius Piso Frugi, an Optimates senator whose grandfather had been consul in the time of the Gracchi. Cicero's policies and beliefs (ie. the importance of the survival of the Republic and protection of the senate) put him fundamentally as an Optimates, who he attempted to appease on the Assembly ground. Furthermore, he sided with the Optimates when Crassus proposed the annexation of Egypt, ensuring their support. However, Cicero also allied himself with Pompey, a powerful Populares. Cicero recognised the need for reconciliation with the Populares due to the social and political problems of the time so he attempted to be on good terms on the Assembly ground. Cicero also backed Pompey to replace Lucullus in the campaign aganst Mithridates in the East. In 66 BC, Cicero was appointed as praetor urbanus and was still in demand as an advocate where he specialised in two types of case; improper influencing of voters and extortion in government.