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Why was the trial of Gaius Verres important for Cicero's career?
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Cicero
Marcus Tullius Cicero, detail of a marble bust; in the Capitoline Museums, Rome.
The trial of Gaius Verres in 70 BCE was a pivotal moment in Cicero's career, establishing his reputation as a formidable orator and a significant political figure.
The case was important for several reasons:
- Oratorical Triumph: By successfully prosecuting Verres, a notorious former governor of Sicily, Cicero effectively defeated Quintus Hortensius Hortalus, the leading orator of the day. The strength of Cicero's initial speech and his presentation of witnesses were so overwhelming that Hortensius abandoned the defense, forcing Verres into exile.1
- Political Impact: The trial exposed widespread corruption within the Roman senatorial order. By highlighting these abuses, Cicero aided the political goals of the consuls Pompey and Marcus Crassus, who were working to undermine the judicial system established by Sulla.1
- Literary Legacy: Although only the first part of his prosecution was delivered in court, Cicero published the complete Verrine Orations. These texts became a definitive record of provincial administration in the late Roman Republic and remain a cornerstone of his oratorical legacy.1