Controversia I BC

Cic. - Inv. (Cic.Inv.2.144)
Text

Lex : QVI TYRANNUM OCCIDERIT, OLYMPIONICARUM PRAEMIA CAPITO ET QUAM VOLET SIBI REM A MAGISTRATI DEPOSCITO ET MAGISTRATUS EI CONCEDITO. Et altera lex : TYRANNO OCCISO QUINQVE EIUS PROXIMOS COGNATIONE MAGISTRATUS NECATO. Alexandrum, qui apud Pheraeos in Thessalia tyrannidem occuparat, uxor sua, cui Thebe nomen fuit, noctu, cum simul cubaret, occidit. Haec filium suum, quem ex tyranno habebat, sibi in praemii loco deposcit. Sunt qui ex lege occidi puerum dicant oportere. Res in iudicio est.

Translation

Law: A TYRANNICIDE SHALL RECEIVE THE REWARD COMMONLY GIVEN TO VICTORS AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES AND HE SHALL ASK THE MAGISTRATE FOR WHATEVER HE WISHES, AND THE MAGISTRATE SHALL GIVE IT TO HIM. Anothe law: WHEN A TYRANT HAS BEEN SLAIN THE MAGISTRATE SHALL EXECUTE HIS FIVE NEAREST BLOOD-RELATIONS. Alexander, who had set himself up as tyrant at Pherae in Thessaly, was killed by his wife, name Thebe, at night, when he was in bed with her. She demands as a reward her son whom she had by the tyrant. Some say that the boy ought to be executed according the law. The case is brought before a court.

Main Characters

Wife of alexander - thebe

Characters

Alexander, Son

Issues

Leges contrariae

Accusations

Execution of the tyrant's relatives, Reward for the tyrannicide

Narrative themes

Reward, Tyrannicide, Tyrant

Legal references

Tyranno occiso quinque eius proximos cognatione magistratuvs necato - tyrant, Tyrant (qui tyrannum occiderit, olympionicarum praemia capito et quam volet sibi rem a magistrati deposcito et magistratus ei concedito)

Historical references

Alexander of pherae: cf. xenoph. hell. vi.iv.35-37