Cinna (play)

Cinna
Title page from 1643 edition of Cinna
Written by	Pierre Corneille
Characters	Cinna Maxime Augustus Emilie Fulvie Livie Polyclète Évandre Euphorbe
Date premiered	1641
Place premiered	Théâtre du Marais
Original language	French
Genre	historical drama
Setting	Rome

Cinna ou la Clémence d'Auguste (English: Cinna or the clemency of Caesar Augustus) is a tragedy by Pierre Corneille written for the Théâtre du Marais in 1641, and published two years later. It takes place in ancient Rome, but the ideas and themes characterize the age of Louis XIV, most notably the establishment of royal power over the nobility. A production was laid on in Bayonne in 1660 just before the King arrived for his wedding to the Infanta.

Corneille addresses the question of clemency and advocates an end to spiraling vengeance. His response is apologetic towards absolute power. As in many of his plays, the heroine is noted for her high tone.^[1]