History of Catiline's Conspiracy (eBook)

Gaius Sallustius Crispus, known simply as Sallust (86–35 BCE), was a prominent Roman historian and politician, distinguished for his concise and pithy historical works. Hailing from an Italian plebeian family, Sallust's political career was marked by his service as a tribune of the people in 52 BCE, and later as the governor of the province of Africa Nova. However, his political path was not without controversy; his governorship ended in accusations of extortion, a common vice among Roman provincial governors of the era. As an author, Sallust is acclaimed for his monographs, which bear a distinct rhetorical and moralistic character, reflecting the influence of Greek historiography. His most recognized work, 'History of Catiline's Conspiracy' ('Bellum Catilinae'), provides a detailed account of the seditious plot led by Lucius Sergius Catilina against the Roman Republic in 63 BCE. This work, along with 'The Jugurthine War' and the fragmentary 'Histories', illustrates Sallust's lean towards analyzing moral decline and the corruption of noble Roman values. Sallust's literary style, with its archaic flavor and sophisticated structure, has secured his position as a significant contributor to the Silver Age of Latin literature. His works offer incisive insights into the political machinations and social turmoil of the late Roman Republic, serving as invaluable resources for historians and literary scholars alike.