Cato the Elder

Influential Roman statesman, writer, and staunch defender of old Roman traditions.

Chronology: -234 – -149

Origins & Early Life

Marcus Porcius Cato (; 234–149 BC), also known as Cato the Censor (Latin: Censorius), the Elder and the Wise, was a Roman soldier, senator, and historian known for his conservatism and opposition to Hellenization. He was the first to write history in Latin with his Origines, a now fragmentary work on the history of Rome. His work De agri cultura, a treatise on agriculture, rituals, and recipes, is the oldest extant prose written in the Latin language. Cato's epithet "Elder" distinguishes him from his great-grandson Cato the Younger.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Cato came from an ancient plebeian family who were noted for their military service. As a youth, he fought as a military tribune in the Second Punic War with distinction. Like his forefathers, when not serving in the army, Cato was devoted to agriculture. Having attracted the notice of patrician Lucius Valerius Flaccus, he was brought to Rome and began his political career. Cato was successively quaestor (204), aedile (199), praetor (198), and in 195 he was elected consul with Flaccus.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

As consul, he unsuccessfully opposed the repeal of the Lex Oppia, a law restricting female luxury. His subsequent military campaign and administrative efforts in Hispania...

Source: Wikipedia