Pro Quinctio

Pro Quinctio was a defence speech delivered by Marcus Tullius Cicero in 81 BC, on behalf of Publius Quinctius.

[2] When Publius Quinctius came to pay the debts, Naevius refused to grant the promised money until they had settled various unresolved issues about the partnership in Gaul.

As a result, he was able to obtain an edict from a praetor, Burrienus, announcing Quinctius as a defaulting debtor, and granting Naevius permission to seize his property.

[6] Naevius' men attempted to seize the slaves Publius was planning to sell, but Quinctius' agent Alfenus prevented this by tearing down the placard announcing Burrienus' edict.

[7] A number of appeals and disagreements followed over the next two years, including an attempted intervention on Publius’ behalf by the ex-consul and governor of Gallia Transalpina, Gaius Valerius Flaccus.

[10] Although it is Cicero's earliest surviving speech, it was not his first appearance as an advocate, as he makes a number of references throughout to earlier cases he had undertaken.

In contrast to the nefarious Naevius, Cicero emphasises the pitiable position of Publius Quinctius, whom he characterises as an honest, hardworking farmer, treacherously deprived of his familial property by a man who was meant to be his friend and partner.