Gaius Verres was a Roman politician and governor of Sicily during the late Roman Republic. He is best known for his corrupt practices and mismanagement while in office, which led to widespread discontent among the Sicilian populace. His actions included extortion and the illegal seizure of property, which ultimately resulted in his trial. Verres was famously prosecuted by the orator and lawyer Cicero, who presented compelling evidence of his misconduct. The trial highlighted issues of corruption within the Roman political system and contributed to the growing calls for reform during this period of Roman history.