Cicero and Lentulus
The political friendship between Lentulus and Cicero posed benefits for both parties. In regards to Cicero, Lentulus climbed the cursus honorum, starting from lower positions, and was elected as Consul in 57.
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With the support of Caesar, Lentulus ordered the return of Cicero from exile as his first day in office. His support toward Cicero is shown in a letter from himself to his friend, marvelling at his abilities; “At first - after the success of your efforts for my recall… that I owed you an affection almost surpassing belief, and every kind of service, however great and rare, that could be bestowed on your person.” (Cicero, cited in Halsall, 1998) This is supported by Christoper Francese, a Professor of classic languages who articulates that, “He was elected consul with Q. Caecilius Meteluis Nepos, and procured the recall of Cicero from banishment.” (Francese, et.al 2014)
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On the other hand, Cicero did assist Lentulus by promoting him to position of curule aedile when the two friends worked together to destroy the Catiline Conspiracies. Another more important aspect is Cicero’s role in supporting Lentulus when the senate wanted to circumscribe him of his governorship. This is shown when in one of Cicero’s letters he wrote that, “After his friend Lentulus Spinther left Rome to govern a distant province, Lentulus’s colleagues in the senate moved.. to strip him of his command all together. Cicero’s efforts to thwart those manoeuvres are the subject of most of his letter to Lentlus.” (White, 2010) Cicero demonstrated immense support and effort in ensuring that Lentulus was able to keep his governorship, which was a true moment in the friendship between the two.
"He was elected consul... and procured the recall of Cicero from banishment."
Cicero demonstrated immense support and effort in ensuring that Lentulus was able to keep his governorship, which was a true moment in the friendship between the two.
Sources
Francese, C. & Smith, S. R., 2014. Ancient Rome: An Anthology of Sources. Indiana: Hackett Publishing Company Incorporated.
Halsall, P., 1998. Cicero: Selected Letters. [Online] Available at: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/cicero-letters.asp [Accessed 12 May 2014].
White, P., 2010. Cicero in the Letters Epistolary Relations of the Late Republic. New York: Oxford University Press.
Halsall, P., 1998. Cicero: Selected Letters. [Online] Available at: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/cicero-letters.asp [Accessed 12 May 2014].
White, P., 2010. Cicero in the Letters Epistolary Relations of the Late Republic. New York: Oxford University Press.