In ancient Rome orators could become like celebrities, many were wealthy and well-respected. Public speaking became a popular form of entertainment and was central to Roman politics.
This list is in alphabetical order
data-sort-type="text" | Name | data-sort-type="text" | Translated name | data-sort-type="text" | Contents | data-sort-type="text" | Orator | data-sort-type="text" | Date | data-sort-type="text" | References |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ad Caesarem Senem de Re Publica Oratio | Speech on the State, Addressed to Caesar in His Later Years | Sallust discusses Caesar's conquests and wars. | Sallust | 46 BCE | [1] [2] | ||||||
Ad Litis Censorias | Cato the Elder | 184 BCE | [3] | ||||||||
M. Tullii Ciceronis Orationes in Catilinam | Marcus Tullius Cicero's Orations against Catiline | Cicero denounces Catiline, who attempted a failed coup against the Roman Republic. | Cicero | 63 BCE | [4] [5] | ||||||
Cato the Elder's speech directed towards the Seleucid king | Cato addresses the Seleucid King in Athens. | Cato the Elder | Uncertain date | [6] [7] [8] | |||||||
Cato the Younger's speech during the Catiline conspiracy | Cato the Younger argues for the execution of the Catiline conspirators. | Cato the Younger | 63 BCE | [9] | |||||||
Contra Servium Galbam pro Direptis Lusitanis | Against Servius Galba for the Lusitanian plunders | Cato argues that Rome should treat its defeated enemies with moderation. | Cato the Elder | 149 BCE | [10] | ||||||
De Bello Carthaginiensi | Speech written by Cato calling for a war against Carthage. | Cato the Elder | 143 BCE | [11] | |||||||
De Domo Sua | On his House | Cicero discusses grief and sacrifice | Cicero | 57 BCE | [12] [13] | ||||||
De Falsis Pugnis | On Falsified Battles | Speech written by Cato against general who sought triumphs for territories they had not conquered through war. | Cato the Elder | 190 BCE | [14] [15] | ||||||
Defense speech by Domitius Afer | Domitius Afer provides a defense for Cloatilla | Domitius Afer | Uncertain date | [16] | |||||||
De Haruspicum Responsis | On the Responses of the Haruspices | Cicero discusses the haruspices. | Cicero | 57 BCE | [17] | ||||||
De Lege Agraria contra Rullum | Opposing the Agrarian Law proposed by Rullus | Cicero argues that a land redistribution bill proposed by Publius Servilius Rullus was of poor quality | Cicero | 63 BCE | [18] [19] | ||||||
De Macedonia Liberanda | Cato argues that Rome should not annex Macedonia as Rome was incapable of properly defending it. | Cato the Elder | 167 BCE | [20] [21] [22] | |||||||
De Pecuni Regis Antiochi | Cato's commentary on potential corruption involved in Scipio's triumph due to his campaign in Africa. | Cato the Elder | Uncertain date | [23] [24] | |||||||
De Praeda militbus dividenda | On the Division of Spoils amongst Military Men | Speech written by Cato the Elder against for the criminalization of generals who take public land. | Cato the Elder | Uncertain date | [25] [26] | ||||||
De Provinciis Consularibus | On the Consular Provinces | Cicero discusses his tax policy | Cicero | 56 BCE | [27] | ||||||
De Suis Virtutibus Contra L. Thermum post censuram | Concerning his virtues in Opposition to Thermus | Cato the Elder attacks the moral character of Lucius Minucius Thermus | Cato the Elder | 183 BCE | [28] [29] [30] [31] | ||||||
De Sumpto Suo | Cato's defense against accusations of corruption. | Cato the Elder | 164 BCE | [32] [33] | |||||||
Dierum Dictarum de Consulatu Suo | Speech written by Cato in defense of his war against the Spanish tribes. | Cato the Elder | 191-190 BCE | [34] [35] | |||||||
Dissuasio Legio Junniae De Feneratione | Cato attacks Quintus Minucius Thermus. | Cato the Elder | 193 BCE | ||||||||
Divinatio in Caecilium | Against Quintus Caecilius in the process for selecting a prosecutor of Gaius Verres | Cicero attacks Quintus Caecilius for the prosecutor he chose in the case against Gaius Verres | Cicero | 70 BCE | [36] | ||||||
Gaius Licinius Macer Calvus's speech against Publius Vatinius | Calvus criticized Vatinius for accepting bribes. | Gaius Licinius Macer Calvus | 54 BCE | [37] | |||||||
In M. Tullium Ciceronem Oratio | An Invective against Marcus Tullius | Sallust criticizes Cicero for his politics and character. | Sallust | Uncertain date | [38] | ||||||
In Pisonem | Against Piso | Cicero attacks Piso and his administration of Macedonia | Cicero | 55 BCE | [39] [40] | ||||||
Interrupted speech by Domitius Afer | One of Domitius Afer's speeches was interrupted by the shouts of the crowd. | Domitus Afer | Uncertain date | ||||||||
In Toga Candida | Denouncing candidates for the consulship of 63 BC | Cicero argues that his opponents Catilina and Antonius would be inefficient Consuls. | Cicero | 64 BCE | [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] | ||||||
In Vatinium testem | Against the witness Publius Vatinius at the trial of Sestius | Cicero's defense of Publius Vatinius | Cicero | 56 BCE | |||||||
In Verrem | Against Verres | Series of speeches made by Cicero against Gaius Verres' conduct in Sicily | Cicero | 70 BCE | [46] | ||||||
Laudatio Iuliae amitae | Funeral oration Julius Caesar gave in honor of his aunt Julia. | Julius Caesar | 68 BCE | [47] | |||||||
Mark Antony's eulogy for Caesar | Mark Antony read Caesar's will and listed his accomplishments in an attempt to gain the populace's favor. | Mark Antony | 44 BCE (March 19) | [48] | |||||||
Philippicae | Collection of 14 speeches written by Cicero to denounce Mark Antony. | Cicero | 43 BCE | [49] [50] [51] [52] [53] [54] [55] [56] | |||||||
Post Reditum in Quirites | To the Citizens after his recall from exile | Cicero addresses the citizenry following his exile. | Cicero | 57 BCE | |||||||
Post Reditum in Senatu | To the Senate after his recall from exile | Cicero addresses the Senate following his exile. | Cicero | 57 BCE | [57] | ||||||
Pro Antonio | In Defense of Gaius Antonius | Cicero's defense of Gaius Antonius | Cicero | 59 BCE | [58] | ||||||
Pro Archia Poeta | In Defense of Aulus Licinius Archias the poet | Cicero's defense of Aulus Licinius Archias | Cicero | 62 BCE | [59] | ||||||
Pro Balbo | In Defense of Lucius Cornelius Balbus | Cicero's defense of Lucius Cornelius Balbus | Cicero | 56 BCE | [60] [61] | ||||||
Pro Caecina | On behalf of Caecina | Cicero's defense of Caecina | Cicero | 69 BCE | [62] [63] [64] | ||||||
Pro Marco Caelio | In Defense of Marcus Caelius Rufus | Cicero's defense of Marcus Caelius Rufus | Cicero | 56 BCE | [65] | ||||||
Pro Aulo Cluentio Habito | On behalf of Aulus Cluentius Habito | Cicero's defense of Aulus Cluentius Habito, who was accused of poisoning Oppianicus the elder | Cicero | 56 BCE | |||||||
Pro Flacco | In Defense of Lucius Valerius Flaccus | Cicero's defense of Lucius Valerius Flaccus | Cicero | 59 BCE | [66] | ||||||
Pro Fonteio | On behalf of Marcus Fonteius | Cicero's defense of Marcus Fonteius | Cicero | 69 BCE | [67] | ||||||
Pro Ligario | On behalf of Ligarius before Caesar | Cicero's defense of Ligarius | Cicero | 46 BCE | [68] | ||||||
Pro Lege Manilia or De Imperio Cn. Pompei | In favor of the Lex Manilia, or On the command of Pompey | Cicero argues for the Lex Manilia | Cicero | 66 BCE | [69] | ||||||
Pro Tullio | On behalf of Tullius | Cicero's defense of his client Marcus Tullius in a property dispute | Cicero | 57 BCE | [70] | ||||||
Pro Rhodiensibus, Contra Servium Galbam | On Behalf of the Rhodians and Against Galba | It argues against a call for a war against Rhodes after the Third Macedonian War. | Cato the Elder | 167 BCE | |||||||
Pro Rege Deiotaro | On behalf of King Deiotarus before Caesar | Cicero's defense of Deiotarus | Cicero | 46 BCE | [71] [72] | ||||||
Pro Roscio Amerino | In defence of Sextus Roscius of Ameria | Cicero's speech in defense of Sextus Roscius, accused of murdering his own father | Cicero | 80 BCE | [73] | ||||||
Pro Marcello | On behalf of Marcellus | Cicero's defense of Marcellus | Cicero | 46 BCE | [74] | ||||||
Pro Milone | In Defence of Titus Annius Milo | Cicero's defense of Titus Milo, who was accused of murdering Clodius. | Cicero | 52 BCE | [75] | ||||||
Pro Murena | In Defense of Lucius Licinius Murena | Cicero's defense of Lucius Licinius Murena | Cicero | 63 BCE | [76] | ||||||
Pro Plancio | In Defense of Gnaeus Plancius | Cicero's defense of Gnaeus Plancius | Cicero | 54 BCE | [77] | ||||||
Pro Q. Roscio Comoedo | In Defense of Quintus Roscius Gallus the Comic actor | Cicero's defense of Quintus Roscius Gallus, a comic actor | Cicero | 77 BCE | [78] | ||||||
Pro Quinctio | On behalf of Publius Quinctius | Cicero's speech in defense of his client Publius Quinctius | Cicero | 81 BCE | [79] | ||||||
Pro Rabirio Perduellionis Reo | On behalf of Gaius Rabirius, accused of treason | Cicero's defense of Gaius Rabirius | Cicero | 63 BCE | |||||||
Pro Rabirio Postumo | In Defense of Gaius Rabirius Postumus | Cicero's defense of Gaius Rabirius Postumus | Cicero | 54 BCE | [80] | ||||||
Pro Scauro | In Defense of Marcus Aemilius Scaurus | Cicero's defense of Marcus Aemilius Scaurus | Cicero | 54 BCE | |||||||
Pro Sestio | In Defense of Publius Sestius | Cicero's defense of Publius Sestius | Cicero | 56 BCE | [81] | ||||||
Pro Sulla | In Defense of Publius Cornelius Sulla | Cicero's defense of Publius Cornelius Sulla | Cicero | 72 or 71 BCE | |||||||
Pro Voluseno Catulo | Concerning Lucius Volusenus Catulus | Domitius Afer, Passienus Crispus, and Decimus Laelius Balbus defend Catulus in a trial | Decimus Laelius | Reign of Claudius | [82] [83] | ||||||
P. Vatinium testem interrogatio | Cicero critiqued the character of Publius Vatinius | Cicero | 56 BCE | [84] | |||||||
Uti praeda in publicum referatur | That the spoils of war should be given back to the public | Speech written by Cato arguing that religious works should be publicly available and not held in private collections. | Cato the Elder | Uncertain date | [85] [86] | ||||||
Speech by Gaius Calpurnius Piso against Domitius Afer | Piso attacked Domitius Afer's character. | Gaius Calpurnius Piso | Uncertain date | [87] | |||||||
Speeches by Gaius Septimius Severus Aper against poets | Aper critiques Maternus. | Aper | Uncertain date | [88] | |||||||
Speech by Julius Africanus | Julius Africanus made a purposefully long speech during a trial. | Julius Africanus | Uncertain date | [89] | |||||||
Speech by Maternus responding to Aper's critique | Maternus responded to Aper's speech criticizing him. | Maternus | Uncertain date | ||||||||
Speech spoken by Quintus Hortensius | Quintus Hortensius praises his successful military defense of Nicomedes IV of Bithynia | Quintus Hortensius | 133 BCE | [90] | |||||||
Si se M. Caelius Tribunnus Appellasset | Cato the Elder | 184 BCE | |||||||||
On the Improper Election of the Aediles | Collection of speeches written by Cato, all of which were made during his Consulship. | Cato | 202 BCE | [91] | |||||||
On His Consulship | Cicero's retrospect on his Consulship and several speeches he made whilst Censor. | Cicero | 202 BCE | [92] |