Marcus Tullius Cicero gave the speech, Pro Caelio, on April 4, 56 BC, in defense of Marcus Caelius Rufus. It is unknown why Cicero agreed to defend Caelius, who had once been his student, but more recently a political enemy, though various theories have been postulated. Caelius was charged with vis (political violence), one of the most serious crimes in Republican Rome. Caelius’ prosecuters, Lucius Sempronius Atratinus, Publius Clodius Pulcher, and Lucius Herennius Balbus, charged him with the following:
- Inciting civil disturbances at Naples;
- assault on the Alexandrian at Puteoli;
- damage to the property of Palla;
- taking gold for the attempted murder of Dio of Alexandria, then attempted poisoning of Clodia; and
- the murder of Dio.
Other than Cicero, Caelius also asked M. Licinius Crassus to defend him during the trial. Magistrate Gnaeus Domitius presided over the trial.
The Pro Caelio is regarded one of the best examples of Roman oratory known, and has been so regarded throughout history. It is noteworthy as a prime example of Ciceronian oratorical technique.
Read more about Pro Caelio: Background and Trial