Around 21 December 44 BCE: To Quintus Cornificius (in Africa) from Cicero (at Rome)
Cicero continues to beg provincial governors to stay loyal to the Republic
On December 20th, a well-attended Senate assented to my motion about several important and necessary matters, including that governorship of the provinces should be retained by their current Governors, and should not be handed over to anyone except the successor appointed by senatorial decree.
I proposed this both for the sake of the Republic, but also a large part of it—believe me!—was to help you retain your position.1 And so, for the sake of our affectionate relationship I ask you—and for the sake of the Republic I urge you—not to allow anyone else to take power in your province, and to keep in mind everything that could affect your position, which is truly unsurpassable.
Let me be honest with you, as our friendship demands. In the case of Sempronius, if you had followed the instructions in my letter, you would have won the highest praise from everyone. But that is in the past, and a trivial thing. This is very serious. Do what it takes to keep your province in the Republic’s control.
I would have written more, but your letter-carriers were in a hurry. And so please make my excuses to our dear Chaerippus.
Read Ad Familiares 12.22a in Latin here | Check the glossary here | Watch an overview of events from the Ides of March onwards here
Cornificius was governor of the province of Africa Vetus. Footnote borrowed from Shackleton Bailey: ‘At the meeting of the Senate called by Antony on 28 November he put through a decree reallocating a number of provinces including Africa Vetus, which was reassigned to its former governor, C. Calvisius Sabinus (Phil. III.26). This was annuled on 20 December.’