Cicero is one of the most important historical figures from classical antiquity. He rose from a provincial family to become consul at Rome in 63 BC and continued to play an active role in politics before his murder under the triumvirs Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus. He also engaged in Roman intellectual life, writing key works on both rhetoric and philosophy. We have a very large body of written evidence by and about him – far more than for any other figure of the Roman Republic – including private correspondence not intended for publication. However, his biographers have mostly been interested in mapping his political career and have set aside a great deal of evidence about his other activities. Taking a broader perspective makes it possible to gain insights into his personality and construct a much fuller and richer biography of him than of any other figure of the ancient world.