Marcus Tullius Tiro

Marcus Tullius Tiro (c. 103 BC in Arpinum; † 4 BC at Puteoli ) was only a slave, then a freedman Marcus Tullius Cicero.

As a born slave in the house he grew up along with the slightly older Cicero and came to Rome with the family. He was released 53 BC and accompanied Cicero during his governorship of Cilicia, but had to temporarily disconnect for health reasons from his patron. After Cicero's death, he retired to a small estate at Puteoli.

Tiro was Cicero as secretary, has also become a confidant. He published Cicero's speeches after his death, collected the ( later edited ) letters of his patron and wrote a (not preserved, but used by Plutarch ) biography of the speaker. Also get only in individual fragments are further works on the Latin language ( de usu atque ratione linguae Latinae ) and various subjects ( de variis atque promiscuis quaestionibus ).

Best known Tiro is because of the invention of the old Roman shorthand, known as Tironian notes since the 16th century. Tiro they developed in order to take notes Cicero's speeches can. According to Plutarch recorded BC for the first time the speeches in shorthand at the Senate meeting on the fate of the conspirators on December 5th 63.

Tiro appears as a fictional character in several recent works of fiction. So he is first-person narrator in the novels Imperium and titanium by Robert Harris, representing the life and personality of Cicero. He also appeared in the detective stories series " Roma Sub Rosa " by Steven Saylor frequently. He also appeared in some " SPQR " novels by John Maddox Roberts.