He was born into a wealthy Roman equestrian order municipal family

One of the most interesting facts about Cicero is that he was born into a wealthy Roman equestrian order municipal family. Marcus Tullius Cicero was born at Arpinum, a hill village 100 kilometers (62 miles) southeast of Rome, on January 3, 106 BC. Marcus Tullius Cicero and Helvia were Cicero's parents, and he had a brother, Quintus Tullius Cicero, who subsequently married Pomponia, the sister of Cicero's friend Atticus. Cicero's family belonged to the local gentry, the domi nobiles, but he had no kinship with the Roman senatorial class. Cicero was only remotely related to Gaius Marius, who was born at Arpinum. This link provided Cicero with certain political advantages. In fact, Marius' political allies were crushed in a civil war during the 80s BC, and anyone associated with the Marian rule was considered a potential troublemaker.

Cicero's father was a wealthy equestrian (knight) with strong ties to Rome. Despite the fact that he was a semi-invalid who could not participate in public life, he compensated by studying extensively. Although nothing is known about Cicero's mother, Helvia, it was typical for the wives of powerful Roman citizens to be in charge of household management. Cicero's brother Quintus described her as a frugal homemaker in a letter.