How did Cicero react to Julius Caesar’s assassination in 44 BCE?

Cicero was not involved in the conspiracy to assassinate Julius Caesar and was not present when the murder occurred on March 15, 44 BCE. Initially, he advocated for a general amnesty in the Senate on March 17, 44 BCE, before briefly retreating to his philosophical writings.1

However, Cicero soon returned to Rome and reentered politics with vigor. He delivered a series of 14 speeches known as the Philippics, in which he urged the Senate to declare war on Mark Antony, who had seized control following Caesar's death. During this period, Cicero attempted to leverage the support of Caesar’s adopted son, Octavian, whom he hoped to use to protect the republic. This strategy ultimately failed when Octavian reconciled with Antony and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus to form the Second Triumvirate, leading to Cicero being targeted for execution and his subsequent death in December 43 BCE.12