Clodius

A plebeian branch of the gens, the Claudii Marcelli, retained the supposedly patrician spelling, while there is some inscriptional evidence that the -o- form may also have been used on occasion by close male relatives of the "patrician tribune" Clodius.

Cicero, having executed members of the Catiline Conspiracy four years previously without formal trial, and having had a public falling out with Clodius, was clearly the intended target of the law.

Clodius also passed a bill that forced Cato to lead the invasion of Cyprus which would keep him away from Rome for some years.

Clodius attempted to try Cicero for executing citizens without a trial during the Catiline conspiracy, resulting in Cicero going into self-imposed exile and his house in Rome being burnt down.

Clodius set about depriving Caesar's senatorial enemies of two of their more obstinate leaders in Cato and Cicero.

Clodius was a bitter opponent of Cicero because Cicero had testified against him in a sacrilege case.

Once back in Rome, Cicero stepped back into his role as Pompey's defender and Clodius' antagonist, but Pompey himself retreated to his lovely young wife and his theatre plans; such behaviour was not expected of the once dazzling young general.

Pompey ordered armed soldiers into the city to restore order and to eliminate the remnants of Clodius' gang.

When Clodius turned on him in turn, Pompey defended himself by supporting Cicero's recall from exile (57 BC).