Pro Marcello

Pro Marcello is a speech by Marcus Tullius Cicero.

Marcus Claudius Marcellus was descended from an illustrious Roman family, and had been Consul with Servius Sulpicius Rufus, in which office he had given great offence to Caesar by making a motion in the Senate to deprive him of his command.

In the Civil War, he supported Pompey, and had been present at the Battle of Pharsalia, after which he retired in exile to Lesbos.

When he yielded to their entreaties, Cicero made a speech, thanking Caesar for his magnanimity; though he had, as he says himself,[1] determined to say nothing, he was afraid that if he continued his silence, Caesar would interpret it as proof that he despaired of the Republic.

Cicero appears to have believed that Caesar intended to restore the Republic, as he mentions in his letters.