The Year 63 BCE in the Roman Empire
The year 63BCE was a very eventful year in the history of the Roman Empire. This year was filled with political conflicts, and marked both the birth and death of two famous leaders. The death of the infamous Mithridates VI took place in 63BCE. Alongside that, one of the greatest Roman Emperors, Octavian (Augustus) was born. Pompey seized Jerusalem this year. Many events during 63BCE are related to a great Roman orator, Marcus T. Cicero, and he drove the largest political conflict this year, the Catilinarian Conspiracy, which occurred through the majority of the year. Lastly, Julius Caesar was elected Pontifex Maximus.
Mithridates VI Eupator was an infamous leader of the Pontus region. Pontus lied in Anatolia, in Asia near the Mediterranean. He was a hero to the Pontus Kingdom, but an enemy to the Romans. Mithridates established a supremacy in Asia, and was a formidable force to Rome. He took the throne at age 12, slowly gaining full power around age 17. Mithridates especially liked war and conquest, which he demonstrated by his numerous attacks on Rome. His first series of conquests were aimed at expansion. Mithridates seized Crimea, a few Black Sea nations, and some locations in the Greek Crimea. The Greek areas readily surrendered to him, accepted him, but he in turn had to offer protection. These early successes lasted little time, because chaos soon erupted in Anatolia. Two of his cities, Paphlagonia and Phyrgia, caused the majority of this chaos. Paphlagonia declared independence and Phyrgia was seized by Rome, respectively. Mithridates solved the first city’s problem by splitting it between himself and Nicomedes III. He soon tried to take Cappadocia but was rejected by Rome. The second time he tried, 92BCE, he was ousted again by Rome although his son Tigranes assisted him. Nicomedes IV was a primary target to be removed, but Nicomedes retaliated with the help of Rome. Here began a series of defeats leading to his death. From 86BCE to 85BCE he suffered defeats from Roman dictators Silla and Frimbia. All his Greek residents were either slaughtered or rebelled against him. He was soon forced peace with Rome in 85BCE. His final defeat occurred in 83BCE by Lucius Licinius invading Pontus. Later in 63BCE, while he tried to invade Italy, his soldiers mutinied and he committed suicide. Octavian, aka Augustus, would become one of the greatest Roman emperors in history. He was born in 63BCE.
Pompey was a great military leader. He originally settled east, wielding a large influence there. Pompey became rich, and with his military expertise, led the Mithridatic Wars on behalf of Rome. Pompey was also a self-sustaining ruler, never requesting the help of others. Soon, Julius Caesar was also elected Pontifex Maximus. Caesar was born from the family name Julus. He chose a military aspect of leadership, first showing his excellence in capturing part of Asia with Marcus Thermus in 83BCE. There he received the civic crown for aiding fellow soldiers. When Sulla died, Caesar returned to Rome and sailed to Rhodes for education under Apolonius Molo for oratorical skills. He was ransomed along the way by pirates as well; soon enough he came to public eye. Caesar gained the goodwill of people by reversing the Sullan legislature and showing off his great generosity. Afterwards, Caesar flew up Roman ranks quickly. He was elected quaestor in 69BCE, pontifex maximus in 63BCE, aedile in 62BCE, and praetor in 62BCE. Caesar soon went on to form two Triumvirates, one with Pompey, and became one of the strongest Roman dictators.
The Catilinarian Conspiracy was the most significant conflict of the year, a political one purely caused by Marcus T. Cicero. This was a conspiracy stating that Catiline was attempting to overthrow the government by an armed force. It began with the consul election, where Catiline was defeated in 65BCE, and Cicero won. Catiline was then declared a public enemy. Cicero himself gave four total orations on this matter throughout 63BCE. In these orations, oration one specifically addresses Catiline, in which Cicero questions him as to supposedly why Catiline felt he should endanger the safety of the people, and how the Senate knew of his conspiracy. Eventually Cicero influenced the Senate to issue the “last decree.” This was the Senatus Consultum Ultimum, 63BCE. This ordered Caius Antonius to kill Catiline. Due to the decree, Cicero gave his second oration, addressed to the people on the matter of how Catiline was driven out, and now that the Roman streets were much more safe. Soon, by 62BCE Catiline was killed. Also, many of his followers were killed by C. Antonius as well. To reward Cicero, he was elected consul, which Cicero expresses gratitude for in his fourth oration.
Marcus Tullius Cicero was one of Rome’s greatest orators. He was elected consul in 63BCE, which is why he drove the Catilinarian Conspiracy to deeper levels. He has a very mixed history. Cicero was the son of an Equestrian, and he received early education from Archias of Antioch, a poet. Cicero gained fame by defending P. Quintus in 81BCE. Then on, he was a great disputer. Cicero became quaestor in Sicily (75BCE), aedile in Rome (69BCE), praetor in 66BCE, finally consul in 63BCE. Cicero was great in oratory, mainly attacking slavery, bribery, and citizenship. He also was known for rhetoric and philosophy. Cicero was a lawyer of reputation, and had lots of support from the populace. His first major action occurred around Pompey. Cicero spoke the lex Manilia, which gave exceptional powers to Pompey. He was praised by the Senate, and forced the execution of Catiline. Cicero was generally drawn to the aristocrats of Rome. Slowly, his reputation decreased, his oratories became harsh and bitter, and the downfall accelerated when Clodius Pulcher, his enemy, referenced the Catilinarian Conspiracy and Cicero became hated by the populace. Cicero gave many oratories. The lex Manilia was one of the most famous ones, giving lots of power to Pompey. It allowed him to attack Mithridates, and therefore begin the series of Mithridatic Wars. His oration in 63BCE: In Catiliniam was the driving force behind the “last decree.”
63BCE was an eventful year for Rome. From the death, or relief, of a formidable public enemy to the birth of the greatest Roman emperor, many things happened in this year which left a lasting influence on Rome. Caesar elected Pontifex changed his method of power, and the power he could exercise. Cicero’s orations sparked thousands of political conflicts and either were beneficial to Rome or harmed Rome. The death of Mithridates also removed one formidable enemy of the Roman Empire. In total, these events drastically influence latter history occurred after this year for the Roman Empire.
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