Marcus Tullius Cicero, Pro Plancio [On Behalf of Plancius]

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Cicero’s speech

Pro Plancio

was delivered in August 54 BC to defend Cnaeus Plancius, who had been accused of using bribery in order to win the election to the curule aedileship for the year 55. Plancius was arraigned pursuant to the

Lex Licinia

– issued only a year earlier, in 55 BC, by the consul M. Licinius Crassus – which condemned

sodalicium

, that is electoral corruption, organized through religious associations (

sodalitates

) which sometimes tended to turn into political clubs, from which votes could be bought (see

Pro Plancio

, secs. 45-47).

The prosecutor was Plancius’ unsuccessful opponent M. Iuventius Laterensis, who had lost the election, aided by another prosecutor (the subscriptor), L. Cassius Longinus. Cicero entertained a friendly relationship both with Cneus Plancius,

1594 words

Citation: Bernard, Jacques-Emmanuel. "Pro Plancio". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 10 December 2013 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=20497, accessed 19 March 2024.]

20497 Pro Plancio 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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