Justice in History

A Corrupt Roman Governor Is Convicted of Extortion

Governors sent by the Roman Senate to rule the provinces wielded absolute power, which often corrupted them. One such man was Gaius Verres, who was convicted in 70 b.c.e. in a court in Rome for his flagrant abuse of power while governor of Sicily. The courtroom drama in which Verres was found guilty reveals one of the deepest flaws of the Roman Republic: the unprincipled exploitation of lands under Roman control. It also reveals one of Rome's greatest strengths: the presence of men of high ethical standards who believed in honest government and fair treatment of Roman subjects. The trial and its result reveals Republican Rome at its best and worst.

Taking It Further

• Rawson, Elizabeth. Cicero, A Portrait. 1975. This book gives a balanced account of Cicero's life.
  
  
• Gruen, Erich S. The Last Generation of the Roman Republic. 1974. A magisterial analysis of the Republic's decline, with emphasis on legal affairs.
  
  
• http://www.unrv.com/bio/caiusverres.php
  Good overview of Caius Verres and his prosecution by Cicero.
  
  
• http://www.crystalinks.com/romelaw.html
  A detailed report on the composition and nature of ancient Roman Law.