Catilinarian Conspiracy

L. Sergius Cataline 108-62 BC, legate in 82 BC; Praetor 68, governor of Africa 67-66 BC. Cataline allegedly murdered his brother in law in 81 and added his name to the proscription list. Allegedly murdered his first wife and his son in order to marry the profligate Aurelia Orestilla who objected to the presence of a grown up step child. The election for 65 was carried by Autronius Paeetus and P. Cornelius Sulla both of whom were soon after convicted of bribery and their places obtained by their competitors and accusers, L. Aurelius Cotta and L. Manlius Torquatus. Autronius and Cataline are said to have formed a project to murder the new consuls on Jan. 1 and to seize the fasces. but Cataline allegedly jumped the gun.

First attempt by Cataline in 65 BC fizzled out but rumors were rife. He sought consulship in 66 for 65 but was prosecuted for extortion and could not run. He ran for consulship in 64 for 63 with P. Sulpicius Galba. Other candidates C. Antonius, L. Cassius Longinus, Q. Cornificius, C. Licinius Sacerdos, and Cicero. His radical program and the weakness of the other candidates brought strong conservative support to Cicero. H tried again in 63 for 62. And was defeated again while arming forces and plotting attacks on Cicero. Cataline, smart but unwise, reckless, indebted, desperate

Ø L. Sergius Catalina – had an affair with a vestal virgin = sister of Terentia, who was the wife of Cicero; young spendthrift aristocrats; P. Clodius (who in 68 prosecuted Cataline for incest with a Vestal Virgin), M. Antonius, C. Scribonius Curio,

Ø Sullan Veterans - Etruria, C. Manlius; Marian Proscribed;

Ø M. Tullius Cicero cos. 63 BC – M. Antonius Hybrida

Ø Roman mores were declining; Sall. Cat. ; Cic. Cat. Proscriptions; confiscations of property, annulment of debts

Ø Sallust uses speeches – Caesar and Cato; Cicero brought scribes into the senate

C. Antonius Hybrida, obtained command of Macedonia in deal with Cicero to get them both elected consuls 63 BC

Fulvia, mistress of Q. Curius, disclosed the plot to Cicero. Cicero openly accused Cataline of plotting against the senate and was given the SC Ultimum. Cataline was shouted down in the senate, left ?Rome, but plotted with Lentulus and Cethegus. Ambassadors of the Allobroges informed against the conspirators. They were apprehended carrying incriminating letters from Lentulus and Cethegus. Catiline tried to lead his army to Cisalpine Gaul, but Metellus Celer had the passes blocked. Antonius comes up with gout, command fell to M. Petreius.

Urban conspirators

Crassus funded both Cataline and Caesar, as well as P. Clodius

Debts, old indebted prostitutes, spendthrift indebted aristocrats and knights, freedmen and slaves, pimps and tabernarii, P. Clodius, tr. Pl. 58 BC, C. Scribonius Curio, M. Antonius,

Impoverished Roman mob – young aristocratic rakes, older prostitutes, pimps, criminals, tabernarii,

Surviving Marian supporters, possibly proscribed, or expropriations of property

Rural conspirators:

Sullan veterans who had lost their land; Sullan proscribed and disenfranchised, including Italians who had been kicked off their land for the Veterans. DEBTS, runaway slaves, C. Manlius, Sullan veteran and ex-centurion

Pauci potentes -- Cicero brought scribes into the senate meeting to record everyone’s words. Caesar, praetor-elect – Epicurean view, that there is no after life, Cato, quaestor elect;

62 BC, Pompey returned in triumph; legislative agenda failed through 60 BC, Afranius, Petreius

Cato the Younger became lightening rod for senatorial faction. He attempted to block all dynastic agendas, and organized a “good government” faction

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Caesar won triumph in Spain as praetorian governor; in 60 BC he asked for permission to run for consulship in absentia, Cato said no.

Publican contracts that Crassus had sizeable interests in. Cato blocked the revaluation of these losses. Q. Hortensius, anti-Cato

M. Calpurnius Bibulus, Caesar ran together with Lucceius

First triumvirate was formed, secret agreement among 3 of the most powerful men in Rome

Catullus, poet, c. 84 – 54 BC, poems – neoteroi – Lesbia (Clodia sister of P. Clodius), Cic. Pro Caelio

Religious hymns; personal love poetry; political satire

Lucretius c. 95-55 BC, De Rerum Natura – Epicurean philosophy

Cicero

Caesar