Information about L.Sergius Catilina
Lucius Sergius Catilina, c.108 BC-62 BC, Roman politician and conspirator.
At first a conservative and a partisan of Sulla, he was praetor in 68 BC and governor of Africa in 67 BC The next year he was barred from candidacy for the consulship by false accusations of misconduct in office. Feeling that he had been cheated, he concocted a wild plot to murder the consuls. He and the other conspirators were acquitted (65 BC).
In 63 BC he ran again for consul, but was defeated by the incumbent, Cicero , and the conservative party. He then attempted to take the consulship by force; he sent money for the troops in Etruria and spread lavish promises in Rome. Cicero became alarmed and on Nov. 8, with facts gained from Catilina's mistress, accused him in the senate ( First Oration against Catilina ).
Catilina fled to Etruria. The remaining conspirators did not cease activities but even approached some ambassadors of the Allobroges, who reported the whole plot to Cicero. The conspirators were arrested and arraigned in the senate on Dec. 3. On Dec. 5 they were condemned to death and executed, in spite of a most eloquent appeal from Julius Caesar for moderation. Cicero's haste and summary behavior led to a charge by Clodius that these Roman citizens were denied due process of law and Cicero was exiled. Catilina did not surrender; he fell in battle at Pistoia a month later.
The prime sources for Catilina's conspiracy are Cicero's four orations against him and Sallust's biography of him, but both of these are prejudiced and unreliable. The affair did little credit to any concerned, except for the honest and patriotic Cato the Younger and possibly for Julius Caesar, who made a daring plea to a vindictive and ruthless majority on behalf of the conspirators whom he scorned.
L. Sergius Catilina: 108 – 62 BC.
From an old Patrician family, which originally supported the optimates
Military service under Sulla in 83 BC
Praetor 68 BC
3 unsuccessful attempts to obtain the consulship for 65, 64 and 63 BC beaten by Cicero for the consulship in 63.
exhausted his resources-faced financial ruin, end of his career and dishonour for his family.
Case of Catilina example of frustrated aristocrat who failed to obtain the consulship by traditional means and then resorted to violence.Catilina had many supporters among debtors, ruined aristocrats (i.e. sons of the proscribed by Sulla), Sulla’s veterans, but also among senators and equestrians (in his earlier career was also supported by Caesar and Crassus).
Read about Catilina:
Catilinas Weg zum Revolutionär
Bellum Catilinae-The Life and Times of the Real Catiline