Cicero in the civil war

• Cicero received a letter from his friend Caelius informing him that open warfare was imminent between Caesar and Pompey


  50 BC
• Cicero's absence


  Caesar's status came under scrutiny
• Caesar's governorship of Gaul was due to end


  1 March 50
• Before Cicero reached Rome

  He received further correspondence from both Pompey and Caesar trying to encourage him to join their sides
• Cicero's plan


  Wait outside Rome, avoid senatorial debates, work with Caesar and Pompey separately to broker some form of compromise to avert war
• Caesar crossed the Rubicon

  10th January 49BC
• Cicero faced a choice


  On which side to join
• Cicero's principles


  Lead him to favour Pompey, supporting the Roman republic
• Cicero: '“I know whom to flee, but I know not whom to follow”'
• Cicero was angry with Pompey for mismanaging his relationship with Caesar
• Cicero spent his time presenting both sides of each argument without solutions
• Cicero's attempt to help his country

  Wrote to Caesar trying to reconcile him with Pompey using his skills of persuasion and appealing to common values to mediate
• A week later


  Cicero met Caesar at Formiae but turned down the invitation to join him in Rome, allowing himself a brief sense of self-approval
• Cicero set sail for Greece to join Pompey and the senate

  June 49
• The defeat at Pharsalus and death of Pompey


  Helped Cicero decide to return to Italy
• Caesar pursued the remains of the Republican cause to North Africa


  Where Cato’s army was defeated and Cato committed suicide at Thespis in 46
• Cicero arrived in Brundisium and had to wait for Caesar's permission to enter Italy and return to Rome


  October 48
• Caesar returned from Egypt, and Cicero immediately received Caesar's pardon and friendship according to Plutarch


  September 47
• Cicero returned to Rome