His best chances of winning the
consulship had been the law courts
- which he had excelled in so far
He stayed in Rome during the 2 years
between his praetorship + consulship - a
lesson he learnt in Sicily
The defence of Gaius Cornelius
He made his first speech in the senate
On the Egyptian Kingdom - about
Crassus (blocking his plans)
A very greedy + materialistic man
He demonstrated that he could +
would support the senatorial elite,
was 1 step closer to earning backing
of the traditionalists
His competition
Antonius
Member of the nobility
Teamed up with Catiline
Catiline
Member of the nobility
Cicero had discounted him, as he was
pending trial for crimes committed as
governor the year before - any many
facing criminal proceedings in Rome
was forbidden from standing as a
candidate in the electoral campaign
It seems his guilt was
obvious to all - however
within a month something
obviously changed to make
his acquittal look like a
forgone conclusion - even
Cicero started to consider
defending him
Cicero evidently hoped to
win his support - but in the
end did not defend him.
Catiline clearly believed
correctly he didn't need to
rely on the services of
Cicero, he was acquitted
meaning he could stand to
be elected for consul
Cicero spoke out about him, accusing
him of acts such as violating the laws +
law courts, + every form of sexual
perversion
Election results - Cicero 1st,
Antonius 2nd (Catline 3rd)
Events
Caesar began to show he did not
intend to stay in the shadows of men
like Crassus + Pompey
Formed an alliance with Crassus
Opposition to Rullus
Significance
Cicero's whole political
career had been gearing
towards consulship
Was voted in first place in election
His election was a result of his
hard work, determination +
patriotism