Cicero's Governorship 51BC

-'Victim' of Pompey's legislation from sole consulship of 52BC that there must be a five year gap between holding office and taking a province.

-Response to a shortage of eligible governors.

-Those who had never taken up an office were first to be sent (Cicero and Bibulus)

-Corruption was rife in provinces because of Pompey's legislation preventing bribery- men needed to extort from provinces to gain money to pay off voters.

-'Contrary to my wishes and quite unexpected'.

-Displeased.

-Hated being absent from Rome.

-Frightened that, bearing in mind political climate, his term may be extended.

-Command in war.

-Maintain peace and security.

-Ensure taxes collected.

-Arbitrate any internal matters/ tribal disbutes.

-Deal with legal matters

-Control his legati (Cicero had 4, one of which was Quintus), who helped run the province, quaestor and administrator team.

-Previous governor= Appius Claudius Pulcher- very corrupt and rude.

-Sold tax contracts, but also introduced a poll tax and a 'door' tax for his own benefit, allowed towns to pay money not to have legions stationed in them.

-Threat of Parthian invasion:

• 2 undersized legions
• Small, insufficient levies
• Untrustworthy client kings on borders
• Parthians crossed Euhrates in September
• BUT Cassius at Antioch nearby to help

-Sensitive situation regarding businessmen- needed to keep them amicable but in line with his ideas, root out corruption (upheld all previous arrangements on the understanding that they were 'straight').

1. Took advantage of Cilicia's mountain frontier- secured.

2. Utilised client kingdom of Cilicia.

3.Claimed a lot of glory from Cassius' actions.

4. Subsequently subdued a set of mountain bandits for which he demanded a thanksgiving.

5. Supplicatio granted (despite Cato's opposition)

- Nephew of Cato.

-Asked Cicero to recall his debts from the king of Cappadocia.

-Problems- Parthian threat, a lack of money and even greater debts to Pompey.

-Cicero made a deal- pay back 800000 per month- not even cover the interest.

-Brutus used other connections, a former corrupt and brutal prefect with his own cavalry squadron- Scaptius who said they would extract his debts.

-Cicero settle debts at his own level, but refused to judge against Scaptius- dodged issue.

Cicero left province with ill-equipped quaestor who was known to extort and Cicero had no real attachment to people or province.