Primary sourceSpeech45 BCE

Pro rege Deiotaro

Cicero · 45 BCE

A speech by Cicero defending the Galatian king Deiotarus, accused of plotting to kill Caesar, delivered in Caesar's own house in 45 BC.

Shows Caesar at the height of his power, personally judging a case in his own house shortly before his assassination.

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Manuscript page of a 15th-century Italian codex with handwritten brown Latin text in two columns, a red rubric reading 'Egregia oratio pro rege Deiotaro', and an illuminated initial C with green, pink and blue decoration and border foliage. Page numbered 163 and 164 at top. — Copy of Cicero's Pro rege Deiotaro in a 15th-century Italian codex.

About this source

What it is

This is a defence speech given by the Roman orator Cicero in 45 BC, defending King Deiotarus of Galatia against the charge that he had plotted to murder Julius Caesar. The speech survives in copies; the pictured page is from a 15th-century Italian manuscript of Cicero's orations, decorated with an illuminated initial.

Why it matters

The speech was delivered in Caesar's own house, with Caesar effectively acting as judge. This shows how much power had concentrated around Caesar by 45 BC — even a foreign king's life depended on his personal judgement, not an open court. It reveals the strange, court-like politics that surrounded the dictator in his last years.

Look closer

What does it mean that the trial took place in Caesar's house rather than a public court?
Why might Cicero have needed to be especially careful with his words here?
What does this event tell us about Caesar's position in Rome just before his assassination?

This speech is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Julius Caesar and Cicero on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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