Abstract
Cicero’s Caesarian speeches were delivered in 46-45 B.C. to Caesar after his victories in the Civil War. Caesar faced a number of critical issues as he dealt with the political and social aftermath of the years after 49 B.C., including what to do with the supporters of his enemies. Cicero, preeminent orator and a key political, was well-placed to speak on behalf of these individuals. Clementia, as an intrinsic theme, impinges upon social, political, and linguistic spheres and became a nexus for anxieties and manipulation between the senatorial and plebian orders. This research compares and contrasts the understanding, presentation, and use of clementia in these speeches, in a discussion set within the social, political, and linguistic contexts that lend this word its powerful significance. It is clear that clementia becomes a point of negotiation of power for Caesar and Cicero alike, the one asserting his political dominance, the other speaking as the social conscience of Rome.