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Sallust: the story on HearLore | HearLore
Sallust
Gaius Sallustius Crispus likely entered the world in Amiternum, a town nestled within Sabine territory. Modern scholars debate whether he was born there or in Rome itself. The historian Jerome placed his birth around 86 BC, though Ronald Syme argued for 87 BC as a more accurate date. His family belonged to the equestrian order and held full Roman citizenship. They were part of a provincial noble lineage with Sabine roots. During the Social War, his parents hid inside Rome because Amiternum faced siege from rebelling Italic tribes. This event may have led to his upbringing in the capital city. He received an excellent education that prepared him for public life.
Political Career And Scandal
Sallust's entry into politics began after a youth described by some sources as ill-spent. He possibly won election as quaestor in 55 BC, but evidence remains unclear. His earliest certain role appeared during his term as plebeian tribune in 52 BC. That year saw followers of Milo kill Clodius. Sallust supported the prosecution of Milo while organizing ferocious street demonstrations. These actions pressured Cicero into delivering what critics called a substandard performance defending Milo. He also helped pass a law allowing Caesar to stand for consulship in absentia. Appius Claudius Pulcher expelled him from the senate in 50 BC on grounds of immorality. This expulsion likely served as a pretext for his opposition to Milo. He subsequently joined Julius Caesar during the civil war spanning 49 to 45 BC. As proconsular governor of Africa Nova, he amassed great wealth through corruption and extortion. Only Caesar's dictatorial influence saved him from conviction upon returning to Rome in late 45 or early 44 BC.
Where was Gaius Sallustius Crispus born and what was his family background?
Gaius Sallustius Crispus likely entered the world in Amiternum, a town within Sabine territory. His family belonged to the equestrian order and held full Roman citizenship as part of a provincial noble lineage with Sabine roots.
When did Gaius Sallustius Crispus serve as plebeian tribune and what political actions did he take that year?
Gaius Sallustius Crispus served as plebeian tribune during 52 BC when followers of Milo killed Clodius. He supported the prosecution of Milo while organizing street demonstrations that pressured Cicero into delivering a substandard defense performance.
What happened to Gaius Sallustius Crispus after he became proconsular governor of Africa Nova?
As proconsular governor of Africa Nova, Gaius Sallustius Crispus amassed great wealth through corruption and extortion. Julius Caesar's dictatorial influence saved him from conviction upon returning to Rome in late 45 or early 44 BC.
Which historical events does the Catiline monograph by Gaius Sallustius Crispus cover and when was it composed?
The first major work by Gaius Sallustius Crispus details Lucius Sergius Catilina's attempt to overthrow the Roman Republic in 63 BC. Some historians date its composition to 50 BC as an unpublished pamphlet reworked after civil wars.
How did Gaius Sallustius Crispus describe his writing style compared to contemporaries like Cicero and Caesar?
Gaius Sallustius Crispus characterized his works with brevity and rare words or turns of phrase far removed from conversational Latin. He avoided common public speech words such as honestas and humanitas while using rare forms like lubido instead of libido.
Facing corruption charges and lacking future political prospects, Sallust turned to writing history. He presented these works as an extension of public life designed to record achievements for future generations. His political experiences produced deep bitterness toward the Roman elite within his writings. Few heroes appear in his surviving texts. He further developed the famous Gardens of Sallust on the Quirinal Hill using much of his accumulated wealth. Jerome claimed he later married Terentia, Cicero's ex-wife, though prominent scholars like Ronald Syme consider this legend. Susan Treggiari suggests he may have instead married Publilia, another of Cicero's wives. Centuries later, Procopius recorded that Alaric's invading army burned Sallust's house when they entered Rome.
The Catiline Conspiracy Monograph
Sallust's first major work details Lucius Sergius Catilina's attempt to overthrow the Roman Republic in 63 BC. Some historians date its composition to 50 BC as an unpublished pamphlet reworked after civil wars. The text shows no traces of personal recollection, perhaps indicating Sallust was away on military service during the conspiracy. It may have served as a plea for common sense during the proscriptions of the Second Triumvirate. Sallust presents Catiline as a deliberate foe of law and morality without offering comprehensive explanations of his intentions. The narrative condemns the conspirators while acknowledging Catiline possessed many noble traits. In particular, Sallust depicts him as deeply courageous during his final battle. He relies heavily on Cicero's De consulatu suo for details regarding the plot. His focus centers on Caesar and Cato the Younger, who serve as examples of virtus or excellence through long speeches describing debates on punishment.
The Jugurthine War Narrative
This monograph covers the war against Numidian King Jugurtha spanning from 112 to 106 BC. Sallust likely relied on general annalistic histories alongside autobiographies by Marcus Aemilius Scaurus, Publius Rutilius Rufus, and Sulla. Its true value lies in introducing Marius and Sulla to the Roman political scene and beginning their rivalry. Although Sallust served as governor of Africa Nova, this experience did not produce solid geographical or ethnographical background within the text. His priority remained using history as a vehicle for judging the slow destruction of Roman morality and politics. The work emphasizes moral decline just like his earlier Catiline monograph. It reflects his belief that Rome's immense power caused political corruption and inevitable decline following the destruction of Carthage in 146 BC.
Distinctive Literary Style
Sallust's writing style differed sharply from contemporaries like Caesar and Cicero. He characterized his works with brevity and rare words or turns of phrase. This approach created texts far removed from conversational Latin of his time. Lucius Ateius Praetextatus helped him collect archaic vocabulary according to Suetonius. Ronald Syme suggests his stylistic choices reflected antipathy toward Cicero while also responding to trends in first-century BC literature. Modern scholars describe his method as anti-Ciceronian, favoring short abrupt descriptions over harmonious sentence structures. He avoided common words found in public speeches such as honestas, humanitas, and consensus. Instead he used rare forms like lubido instead of libido and maxumum instead of maximum. Some words including antecapere and portatio appear nowhere else before his writings. These may represent intentional revivals of archaic terms or neologisms. His style employed antithesis, alliteration, and chiasmus to create impact. Critics like Gaius Asinius Pollio attacked his addiction to archaic words and unusual grammar features.
Legacy And Modern Reception
Antiquity generally viewed Sallust favorably as a historian. Tacitus spoke highly of him and was influenced by his work more than any other writer. Quintilian called him the Roman Thucydides while Martial ranked him prince of Roman historiographers. Jerome described him as very reliable in late antiquity. His monographs entered standard Latin education alongside Virgil, Cicero, and Terence. During the thirteenth century theologian Thomas Aquinas cited passages about Roman expansion. Renaissance figures including Leonardo Bruni, Coluccio Salutati, and Niccolò Machiavelli studied his works extensively. In England early modern admirers included Thomas More, Alexander Barclay, and Thomas Elyot. Justus Lipsius marked him second only to Tacitus among notable Roman historians. Nineteenth-century historians began noting bias and partisanship alongside geographical errors. They criticized how moralizing often blunted by sanctimonious tone made him appear hypocritical. Modern views reject moral failure as primary cause for republic collapse. Christopher S. Mackay argues Sallust crowded out structural socio-economic factors while manipulating facts to fit his thesis. Despite criticism he remains credited as clear-sighted interpreter of his own age.