Catiline, Rebel of the Roman Republic: The Life and Conspiracy of Lucius Sergius Catilina

Lucius Sergius Catilina (Catiline), a Roman aristocrat, was a controversial figure who was cast as both a Roman equivalent of Richard III and a left-wing revolutionary. He was motivated by pride and ambition and planned to stage a coup in Rome, but his conspiracy was betrayed to Cicero, who executed five of the key conspirators without trial. Cataline died fighting in a fierce battle at Pistoia.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2023
Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd

Lucius Sergius Catilina, also known as Catiline, hailed from a humble yet noble Roman lineage. Throughout his life, he remained a highly contentious figure, both in his own era and in the subsequent historical discourse. Depending on the shifting perspectives of time and historians, Catiline was portrayed as either the Roman counterpart of Richard III or as a left-wing revolutionary. Despite his appeals for debt relief and other measures during his second consular campaign, which garnered support from the impoverished masses, the author suggests that Catiline's motivations were driven by pride and ambition rather than a genuine concern for widespread social and economic reforms.

Deeply embittered by his perceived injustice, Catiline plotted to overthrow the Roman government. He instructed his lieutenant, Manlius, to gather armed forces in Etruria, while he meticulously planned a coup d'état in Rome. However, his conspiracy was betrayed to Cicero, a renowned orator and statesman. Cicero skillfully leveraged his intimate knowledge of the plot to coerce Catiline into leaving Rome and joining Manlius, effectively dismantling the city's conspirators. Catiline's urban lieutenants, in their pursuit of support, mistakenly sought the allegiance of a Gallic tribe residing in the city. Skeptical of the conspirators' leadership, the Gauls disclosed their findings to Cicero. Cicero then assembled a compelling prosecutor's case against the conspirators and galvanized public opinion against the Catilinarians. In a swift and decisive move, Cicero executed five of the key conspirators without the benefit of a trial.

News of the destruction of the urban conspiracy reached Catiline's soldiers, leading to a significant number of desertions. Trapped between two formidable government forces, Catiline engaged in a fierce but ultimately futile battle at Pistoia. In the face of overwhelming odds, Catiline met his demise, marking the end of his tumultuous and controversial life.

Weight: 520g
Dimension: 164 x 241 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399067898