Cicero's Role Models: Political Strategy of a Newcomer

2010 OUP hardcover edition. Unread copy in very good condition. Henriette van der Blom explores the rhetorical and political strategy adopted by Cicero as a newcomer in Roman republican politics. As an ambitious new man in a political culture which favoured men descended from famous consuls and generals, Cicero had to devise alternative strategies in order to succeed. Through his main means to political power, his oratory, Cicero acknowledged the traditional claim to political office through ancestry and adapted it to his own situation. Instead of referring to the virtues and achievements of his own ancestors, he advertised himself as a follower of chosen models of behaviour from the past - his role models or exempla - to build up and strengthen his public persona and thereby his claim to political office and influence. His treatises provided further opportunities for promoting himself as a political thinker and brilliant orator. Van der Blom discusses the importance of ancestors in Roman political culture and their role as historical examples for emulation before focusing upon Cicero's role models: role models which he employed to present himself as a leading orator, a prominent consul and statesman, a triumphantly recalled exile, and, furthermore, as a role model to his own family, to contemporary Romans, and to posterity. Contents: 1. Mos, maiores, and historical exempla in Roman culture and society 2. Mos, maiores, and historical exempla in Cicero PART I. CICERO THE HOMO NOVUS 3. Cicero's background and education 4. Nobilis and homo novus PART II. CICERO'S USE OF HISTORICAL EXEMPLA 5. Definitions of historical exemplum and personal exemplum 6. The nature and functions of historical exempla Creation of historical exempla The choice of historical exempla The problem of credibility The importance of genre Conclusion PART III. CICERO'S ROLE MODELS 7. Cicero's alternative claims to ancestry Great Romans as general exempla for all Romans Homines novi as exempla Personal exempla 8. Cicero's use of personal exempla An aspiring new man The homo novus consul Exile and triumphant recall The orator-statesman outside politics In the mould of Scaevola: Cicero in Cilicia The response of an intellectual A living exemplum Conclusion PART IV. CICERO AS EXEMPLUM 9. Cicero's roles as an exemplum 10. An exemplum and teacher to the younger generation 11. A family exemplum Conclusion CONCLUSION Includes detailed coverage of major figures from Roman history, classical literature, and the life and works of Marcus Tullius Cicero, including: Republican Statesmen & Orators: Antonius Creticus, Caesar Augustus, Calpurnius Piso Frugi, Gaius Marius, Gaius Scribonius Curio, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (Pompey), Licinius Crassus, Licinius Lucullus, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony), Marcus Junius Brutus, Marcus Porcius Cato (Cato the Elder & Cato the Younger), Servius Sulpicius Rufus, and Tullius Cicero (Marcus, Quintus, and Lucius). Classical Authors, Philosophers & Historians: Demosthenes, Diogenes, Ennius, Fabius Pictor, Gaius Sallustius Crispus (Sallust), Heraclitus Ponticus, Homer, Horatius (Horace), Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Marcus Terentius Varro, Mucius Scaevola, Cornelius Nepos, Posidonius, Quintilian, Socrates, Suetonius Tranquillus, Terentius Afer (Terence), Theopompus, and Velleius Paterculus. Mythological & Ancient Historical Figures: Alexander the Great, Anaximenes, Archimedes, Aristides, Charlemagne, Demetrius, Hannibal, Miltiades, Nestor, Orpheus, Phoebus, and Xerxes. Figures from Roman Law & Cicero's Speeches: Aemilius Lepidus, Aemilius Scaurus, Caecilius Metellus (Celer, Numidicus, and Pius), Claudius Marcellus, Clodius Pulcher, Flavius Fimbria, Furius Camillus, Licinius Macer, Munatius Plancus, Roscius Amerinus, Rubirius Postumus, Valerius Flaccus, and Gaius Verres.…