Cicero and the First Triumvirate

What did Pompey, Crassus and Caesar want?

The Triumvirate was formed in [blank_start]60 BC[blank_end]. This was Caesar's idea and enabled them to run Rome, it was [blank_start]a private agreement[blank_end]. Pompey, Crassus and Caesar all wanted something that they could not get on their own. Pompey wanted [blank_start]two things[blank_end]- [blank_start]recognition of the four provinces[blank_end] that he created in Asia and [blank_start]land to be given to his troops[blank_end]; both of these things usually happened automatically, but due to his opponents in the senate they were blocked. Crassus had previously brought [blank_start]the right to collect taxes in Asia[blank_end], however despite implementing [blank_start]heavy taxes he could not get a profit[blank_end] and wanted third of his money back from the senate. Caesar wanted [blank_start]a consulship[blank_end] so that afterwards he would be eligible for a [blank_start]military command in Gaul[blank_end], which would give him huge wealth and glory. Caesar was the [blank_start]brains[blank_end] of the Triumvirate along with a powerful persuasion. Pompey had the [blank_start]influence[blank_end] that came with the huge army of voters and being a very popular general. Crassus was the [blank_start]money[blank_end] and was able to bribe anyone who needed to be. This meant that they were able to fix things for years. In [blank_start]59 BC[blank_end] Caesar became [blank_start]consul[blank_end] and the year after he got the military command in [blank_start]Gaul[blank_end]. Also in [blank_start]58 BC[blank_end] they fixed both consuls one was Piso- [blank_start]Caesar's[blank_end] father in law and the other was Gabiniaus who was a close friend of [blank_start]Pompey's.[blank_end] They along with Crassus' money ran the senate in the interests of the Triumvirate.

What happened during Caesar's consulship in 59 BC?

Cicero [blank_start]did not like[blank_end] Caesar's consulship in 59 BC stating that there was [blank_start]"nothing but utter despair"[blank_end] in one of his letters to Atticus. Cicero was asked to join the Triumvirate due to his [blank_start]oratory, his vast influence and weight[blank_end] that his opinion carries. He was offered a prestige job [blank_start]in the military campaign in Gaul[blank_end] at Caesar's side and an [blank_start]all expenses paid foreign religious trip[blank_end] so that he would be out of Rome and less of a threat. He [blank_start]denied[blank_end] both. This was due to the fact that the dominance of the Triumvirate was the [blank_start]opposite of Cicero's core beliefs[blank_end], which were a democratic republic and freedom of speech. A main factor of this was the Campanian Land Law which required everyone who was standing for election to take [blank_start]an oath to swear not to change the law[blank_end]; this is extremely anti-democratic. In a public speech Cicero [blank_start]attacked the violence[blank_end] of Caesar's consulship and the Campanian Land Law. Not 24 hours later Caesar was conspiring with Pompey and Clodius to [blank_start]exile Cicero[blank_end], due to him executing Roman citizens without a trial, despite them being traitors aligning themselves with Catiline.

When was Cicero exiled?

When Cicero was exile Clodius burnt his town house to the ground and built a temple to freedom on top of it.

Why was Cicero pardoned?

What did Cicero get Pompey in thanks?

The Triumvirate is visibly splitting in [blank_start]56 BC[blank_end], with Caesar in Gaul and Pompey and Crassus quarreling. Also all three of them had gained what they wanted and what drew them together in the first place. Crassus had hated Pompey ever since 71 BC when Pompey stole all of the glory for [blank_start]winning the Slave War[blank_end] when Crassus had been fighting for two years. Crassus had joined with [blank_start]Clodius[blank_end] who had a team of thugs which they used to intimidate Pompey. This makes life so hard for Pompey that he goes to a local gladiator school and chooses two gladiators to protect him as he walked around Rome. Caesar assembled Crassus and Pompey at [blank_start]Luca[blank_end] in 56 BC to stop them from quarreling. Caesar promises them a [blank_start]joint consulship in 55 BC.[blank_end] For Pompey he gives a province of [blank_start]Spain with three legions for 5 years[blank_end] and he stay in Rome so he [blank_start]never even needs to go to Spain[blank_end]. Crassus also gets the province of [blank_start]Syria[blank_end] so that he can launch an attack on the Parthian Empire. Unfortunately in 53 BC he lost the standards and his life.

Why did Cicero drop his opposition to the Triumvirate?

What period did Cicero drop out of politics?