The Trial of Verres 70 BC

The Trial of Verres 70 BC

1. Who?

   • Verres - The accused
     • Hortensius - The defence
   • Sicily - The victims
     • Cicero - The prosecutor

2. Why?

   • Verres had been accused of corruption
   • The corruption got worse after his first year, when his governorship of Sicily was extended - as there was no one to replace him due to the slave war with Spartacus + the trouble in Spain

3. Before the trial

   • During his farewell speech in Sicily at the end of his queastorship Cicero promised to be a patron of the Sicilian people himself
     • After 3 years of suffering at the hands of the corrupt governor Verres, they called in the favour + Cicero obliged
   • Sthenius did his best to expose Verres - the 2 men had initially been on good terms
     • However due to Sthenius's wealth it was tradition for Verres to stay with him when visiting the province
       • When staying Verres stripped his house of all his worldly possessions - Sthenius bore the loss of his personal possessions, but prevented Verres from taking any public treasures
         • In revenge - Verres conspired with some of Sthenius' enemies + guaranteeing them success in any legal action against the man - he was charged with forging an illegal document + fled to Rome in fear
           • Verres pursued his vendetta - by supporting a capital charge + pronouncing him guilty, despite Sthenius not being in Sicily to defend himself
             • Cicero defended Sthentius - who was allowed to stay in Rome due to the injustice of the conviction - due to this more men wanted remuneration for the losses they had suffered under Verres
               • The Sicilians turned to Cicero, who obliged
   • Verres + Hortensius had tried to sabotage the trial
     • They were aware that if they could postpone trial until the following year it would be much easier for Verres to be acquitted - as Hortensius was hoping for consulship + some of Verres' friends was hoping for high power positions
       • They created a new trial - against the ex governor of Achaea - a case of provincial mismanagement which required time abroad
         • Cicero was given 110 days to collect evidence in Sicily - the prosecutor the men had hired for the Achaea trial only asked for 108 days - Cicero had to work extra fast + he did in 50 days

4. During the trial

   • Due to the previous sabotage attempts + the election going in the favour of Verres Cicero had to act fast
     • Cicero had to rush his speeches
   • Cicero later said - within the first hour he had cut short any hopes the defence still had
     • The second day they had given up + the third Verres pretended to be ill
   • The trial lasted 9 days - at some point in the middle Verres escaped into exile (with some of his treasures)

5. After the trial

   • The Sicilians were happy with their compensation
   • Cicero later published his full speeches
   • Cicero always remained slightly distrustful of Hortensius

6. Significance

   • Large publicity due to it being a high-profile prosecution
   • Cicero had beaten another man to the prosecution of Verres
   • Demonstrated Cicero's wide range of oratorical skills
   • Cicero was now considered the leading orator in Rome