Staatsdenken und forensische taktik in Ciceros Ligariana

Résumé 0

Cicero's speech in defence of Quintus Ligarius (Pro Ligario) delivered in 46 is considered a classic example of deprecatio in both ancient and modern literature. Historically it is an important work as it was Cicero's first oration on the Forum, that is, before the general public after the civil war. In this oratio, Cicero praised Caesar's clementia and seemingly legitimised dictatura. First, we describe the historical background of the oratio and the process of the proceedings; thereafter we examine the issue to determine whether the proceedings against Ligarius may be considered a criminal trial. After an analysis of the genre of the speech, deprecatio, we analyse the appearance of Caesar's clementia in Pro Ligario. In conclusion we focus on the means of style of irony, and highlight an interesting element of the Caesar-Cicero relation and how the orator voices his conviction that he considers the dictator's power and clementia illegitimate.