On This Day

43 BC Roman orator and politician Marcus Tullius Cicero is assassinated in Formiae by soldiers under the command of Mark

43 BC Roman orator and politician Marcus Tullius Cicero is assassinated in Formiae by soldiers under the command of Mark Antony

Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, orator, writer and Academic skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises that led to the establishment of the Roman Empire. His extensive writings include treatises on rhetoric, philosophy and politics. He is considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists and the innovator of what became known as "Ciceronian rhetoric". Cicero was educated in Rome and in Greece. He came from a wealthy municipal family of the Roman equestrian order, and served as consul in 63 BC.

He greatly influenced both ancient and modern reception of the Latin language. A substantial part of his work has survived, and he was admired by both ancient and modern authors alike.

Historical Significance

Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, orator, writer and Academic skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises that led to the establishment of the Roman Empire.

Key People

Cicero

Roman statesman and lawyer

Roman statesman and lawyer

Mark Antony

Roman politician and general

Roman politician and general

Events Before

  1. 38 BC Roman Republican Leader Octavian, later Augustus 1st Roman Emperor, weds Livia Drusilla

    38 BC Roman Republican Leader Octavian, later Augustus 1st Roman Emperor, weds Livia Drusilla

  2. 41 Claudius succeeds his nephew Caligula as Roman Emperor after the latter's assassination by officers of the Praetorian

    41 Claudius succeeds his nephew Caligula as Roman Emperor after the latter's assassination by officers of the Praetorian Guard

  3. 42 BC Second Battle of Philippi: Brutus's army is decisively defeated by Mark Antony and Octavian during the Roman Repub

    42 BC Second Battle of Philippi: Brutus's army is decisively defeated by Mark Antony and Octavian during the Roman Republican civil wars causing Brutus to fall on his sword

Events After

  1. 44 BC Julius Caesar is stabbed to death by Brutus, Cassius and several other Roman senators on the Ides of March in Rome

    The Ides of March (Latin: Idus Martiae, Medieval Latin: Idus Martii) is the day on the Roman calendar marked as the Idus, roughly the midpoint of a month, of Martius, corresponding to 15 March on the...

  2. 45 BC The Julian calendar takes effect for the first time by edict of Roman dictator Julius Caesar

    Gaius Julius Caesar (12 or 13 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman general and statesman who was the dictator of the Roman Republic at various points from 49 BC until his assassination in 44 BC.

  3. 46 BC Battle of Thapsus: Julius Caesar defeats Caecilius Metellus Scipio and Marcus Porcius Cato (Cato the Younger) near

    46 BC Battle of Thapsus: Julius Caesar defeats Caecilius Metellus Scipio and Marcus Porcius Cato (Cato the Younger) near Thapsus in modern-day Tunisia

  4. 48 BC Caesar's Civil War: Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey the Great at the Battle of Pharsalus, forcing Pompey t

    48 BC Caesar's Civil War: Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey the Great at the Battle of Pharsalus, forcing Pompey to flee to Egypt

  5. 49 Roman Emperor Claudius marries his fourth wife and niece Agrippina the Younger

    Julia Agrippina (6 November AD 15 – 23 March AD 59), also referred to as Agrippina the Younger, was Roman empress from AD 49 to 54, the fourth wife and niece of emperor Claudius, and the mother of…

More from the 40s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on December 7, 43?
Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, orator, writer and Academic skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises that led to the establishment of the Roman Empire. His extensive writings include treatises on rhetoric, philosophy and politics. He is considered one of Rome's greatest orators and prose stylists and the innovator of what became known as "Ciceronian rhetoric".
Why is 43 BC Roman orator and politician Marcus Tullius Cicero is assassinated in Fo... significant?
Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, orator, writer and Academic skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises that led to the establishment of the Roman Empire.
Who was involved in 43 BC Roman orator and politician Marcus Tullius Cicero is assassinated in Fo...?
Key figures include Cicero (Roman statesman and lawyer), Mark Antony (Roman politician and general).

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