Gaius Verres was a high ranking Preator in the city of Rome
Verres then served as a commander in Sicily for three years
Cicero indicted him for provincial extortion directly after his return
The Romans had just concluded a dangerous slave war led by the ex-gladiator Spartacus
Sicily had seen two really dangerous slave wars in the previous two generations, and had Spartacus succeeded in crossing over to the island and kindling a third one, it would have been really serious for the Romans
The war with Spartacus and the pirates (who were to a certain extent collaborating) had endangered vital seaborne food imports to Rome.
There were loud cries for judicial reform in Rome in the year 70
Verres had a father who was a senator, and he was well connected with powerful patrons
Verres had thrown successful games in Rome, and even more importantly, delivered grain from Sicily very effectively to Rome’s people
Verres had reached the minimum age requirement for the consulship in 70bc
Cicero's motivations for his prosecution were his previous service as a junior magistrate in Sicily and his oratorical rivalry with (the significantly senior) Q. Hortensius
if Cicero won this case and had Verres condemned, he could acquire Verres' more senior speaking place in the Senate
in Cicero's elaborate attack on Verres was to pave the way for his own praetorship, and stop Verres’ consular bid.
Cicero had was to secure the right to prosecute Verres. His competition was Verres' ex-subordinate Q. Caecilius Niger, a native of Sicily
Cicero was given 70 days to get evidence but was to secure the right to prosecute Verres. His competition was Verres' ex-subordinate (from 73) Q. Caecilius Niger, a native of Sicily