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Catiline: the story on HearLore | HearLore
Catiline
Lucius Sergius Catiline emerged from the gens Sergia, an ancient patrician family claiming descent from Sergestus, a Trojan companion of Aeneas. No member of this lineage had held the consulship since 429 BC, yet Catiline's background remained steeped in aristocratic tradition. His father Lucius Sergius Silus was poor by aristocratic standards, while his great-grandfather Marcus Sergius Silus served with distinction as praetor during the Second Punic War in 197 BC. The exact year of his birth remains unknown, though evidence suggests he was born no later than 108 BC or possibly 106 BC if patricians enjoyed earlier rights to magistracies. During the Social War, Catiline served under Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo alongside Strabo's son Pompey and Cicero. An inscription on a bronze tablet known as the Asculum Inscription records his name among Strabo's council when citizenship was granted to auxiliaries. He married Gratidia, one of Gaius Marius's nieces, entering into a union that would later become entangled in political scandal.
Sullan Profiteering And Legal Troubles
In 82 BC, Catiline joined Sulla's forces during the civil war as a lieutenant, profiting from the proscriptions that followed. Ancient sources claim he became wealthy by killing his brother and two brothers-in-law, including Marcus Marius Gratidianus, the prosecutor who had caused the death of Quintus Lutatius Catulus's father. Cicero accused him of beheading Gratidianus and carrying the head through Rome from the Janiculum to Sulla at the Temple of Apollo. While modern historians doubt his direct involvement, placing blame instead on Catulus, Catiline did purchase estates for fractions of their true value during the purges. By the end of Sulla's dictatorship, he had accumulated significant wealth. In 73 BC, he faced prosecution before pontiffs for adultery with Fabia, a Vestal Virgin and half-sister of Cicero's wife Terentia. His friend Catulus helped secure acquittal for both parties, leaving Catiline indebted to his ally. Upon returning to Rome after serving as praetor around 68 BC, embassies from Africa protested his maladministration as governor between 67 and 66 BC.
When was Lucius Sergius Catiline born and what family did he belong to?
Lucius Sergius Catiline was born no later than 108 BC or possibly 106 BC from the ancient patrician gens Sergia. His lineage claimed descent from Sergestus, a Trojan companion of Aeneas, though no member had held the consulship since 429 BC.
What happened during the proscriptions in 82 BC involving Lucius Sergius Catiline?
During the civil war in 82 BC, Lucius Sergius Catiline joined Sulla's forces as a lieutenant and profited from the proscriptions that followed. Ancient sources claim he became wealthy by killing his brother and two brothers-in-law including Marcus Marius Gratidianus while purchasing estates for fractions of their true value.
Why did Lucius Sergius Catiline leave Rome on the 6th of November 63 BC?
On the 6th of November 63 BC, Lucius Sergius Catiline held a secret meeting at Marcus Porcius Laeca's house planning to join Gaius Manlius' army while conspirators set fires in Rome and assassinated Cicero. After Cicero denounced him in the First Catilinarian speech, Catiline left for Massilia claiming voluntary exile when the senate refused his offer of exile.
Where and when was Lucius Sergius Catiline killed during the Roman Republic?
Lucius Sergius Catiline died possibly on the 3rd of January 62 BC at Pistoria which is modern-day Pistoia after offering battle to Antonius' army. His army of perhaps three thousand men melted away after coconspirators in Rome were executed without trial on the 5th of December.
How has Lucius Sergius Catiline been portrayed in literature from ancient times to the modern era?
In Roman literature, Lucius Sergius Catiline became a byword for villainy with Virgil depicting him tortured in the underworld by Furies in the Aeneid written during Augustus's reign. Modern reassessments include Edward Spencer Beesly's 187 work and dramatists like Ben Jonson who wrote Catiline His Conspiracy in 1611 while Steven Saylor published Catilina's Riddle in 1993.
Catiline stood for consulship in 64 BC alongside Cicero and Gaius Antonius Hybrida, bankrolled by Caesar and Crassus while distributing large bribes. Despite electoral bribery laws being defeated, Cicero delivered In Toga Candida, an invective speech attacking Catiline and Antonius. Their alliance failed to overcome Cicero's unanimous victory, though Antonius narrowly defeated Catiline. Following this defeat, Catiline faced charges of murdering people during the proscriptions, possibly involving Gratidianus. Prosecuted by Lucius Lucceius or possibly Caesar, he was acquitted thanks to former consuls speaking in his defense. He ran again in 63 BC, but Cicero supported Servius Sulpicius Rufus instead, harming Catiline's chances since both were patricians legally barred from holding consulship together. After his second defeat, Catiline seemed to run out of money and was abandoned by supporters like Crassus and Caesar. His candidacy had been accepted initially, yet political maneuvering consistently blocked his path to power.
The Catilinarian Conspiracy Unfolds
On 18 or the 19th of October, Crassus and two other senators visited Cicero's house on the Oppian Hill delivering anonymous letters warning of a planned massacre. A few days later, on 21 or the 22nd of October, an ex-praetor reported that Gaius Manlius, an ex-Sullan centurion who had supported Catiline's bid for consulship, had raised an army in Etruria. The senate passed a senatus consultum ultimum directing consuls to take necessary actions for state security. When news reached Manlius, he declared open rebellion. On the 6th of November, Catiline held a secret meeting at Marcus Porcius Laeca's house planning to join Manlius' army while conspirators set fires in Rome and assassinated Cicero. The next day, assassins found Cicero's house shut against them. Cicero convened the senate at the Temple of Jupiter Stator, denouncing Catiline in what became known as the First Catilinarian speech. Catiline offered exile if decreed by the senate, but when refused, he insulted Cicero's ancestry calling him a squatter before leaving for Massilia claiming voluntary exile.
Battle Of Pistoria And Final Death
Catiline left Rome traveling toward Massilia but diverted to Faesulae where he met Manlius' forces, proclaiming himself consul and adopting consular regalia. The senate declared both men public enemies and dispatched Antonius with an army to subdue him. In late November, Antonius approached from the south, decamping near mountains but avoiding battle until receiving reinforcements from quaestor Publius Sestius in December. Seeing escape blocked by proconsul Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer garrisoning Apennine passes near Bononia, Catiline turned south facing Antonius. They met at Pistoria, modern-day Pistoia, possibly on the 3rd of January 62 BC. Descending from heights, Catiline offered battle to Antonius' army. Marcus Petreius gave operational command breaking through the center with praetorian cohorts forcing flight. Catiline and diehard supporters fought bravely yet were annihilated; they were desperate men who did not wish to survive their defeat. His army of perhaps three thousand men melted away after coconspirators in Rome were executed without trial on the 5th of December.
Literary Portrayals And Historical Legacy
In Roman literature, Catiline's figure became a byword for villainy as politicians distanced themselves from his failed revolt. Cicero later praised Catiline's personal qualities in a defense speech for Marcus Caelius Rufus, describing him as a good motivator, effective general, sociable, and strong. Livy used the conspiracy as a template filling shaky portions of early Roman history while Virgil depicted Catiline tortured in the underworld by Furies in the Aeneid written during Augustus's reign. Into the imperial period, Catiline's name served as a derogatory nickname for unpopular emperors. However, his reputation as an advocate for dispossessed rural plebs persisted in northern Italy until medieval times. In Tuscany, a medieval tradition claimed Catiline survived the battle living out his life as a local hero or spawned the Uberti dynasty through a son named Uberto. Sallust painted Catiline as symbolizing moral decline causing republic collapse, characterizing him as having a ravaged mind vastus animus.
Modern Reassessments And Cultural Depictions
Edward Spencer Beesly published the first major reassessment in 187 arguing against prevailing views depicting Catiline as demon breathing murder and conflagration. Modern historians like Waters present largely hypothetical narratives framing the conspiracy as Ciceronean fiction advancing political goals while Seager argues Cicero purposefully incited rebellion to purge potential Pompeian allies. Classicists have argued Catiline was precursor to Caesar rebelling against senatorial corruption though evidence remains overwhelmingly biased from Ciceronean sources. At least two dramatists wrote tragedies about him including Ben Jonson's 1611 play Catiline His Conspiracy depicting him as sadistic anti-hero and Henrik Ibsen's debut work showing him struggling against world's corruption after 1848 revolutions. Antonio Salieri composed opera tragicomica Catilina in 1792 left unperformed until 1994 due to French Revolution implications blending love affair between Catiline and Cicero's daughter with historic politics. Steven Saylor's 1993 novel Catilina's Riddle revolves around intrigue between Catiline and Cicero while Robert Harris' 2006 book Imperium covers developing career of Cicero with many references to interactions.