First Catilinarian conspiracy

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First Catilinarian conspiracy

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A purported political plot in the late Roman Republic concerning consular elections.

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Origins & Early Life

The first Catilinarian conspiracy was an almost certainly fictitious conspiracy in the late Roman Republic. According to various ancient tellings, it involved Publius Autronius Paetus, Publius Cornelius Sulla, Lucius Sergius Catilina, and others. Ancient accounts of the alleged conspiracy differ in the participants; in some tellings, Catiline is nowhere mentioned. Autronius and Sulla had been elected consuls for 65 BC but were removed after convictions for bribery, and new consuls were then elected. The supposed goal of the conspiracy was to murder the second set of consuls elected for 65 BC and replace them in their resulting absence.

Career & Major Achievements

Almost all modern historians believe the conspiracy is fictitious and dismiss claims thereof as merely slanderous political rumours. The core of the legend, a plot by the two consuls-elect for 65 BC to kill and usurp the consuls, is dismissed as inconceivable. The participation of others, such as Catiline, is rejected as inconsistent with their immediately following political actions; most claims of participation are believed to be discrediting retrojections introduced in the aftermath of the real Catilinarian conspiracy in 63 BC. The inciting incident for the conspiracy was the election of two consuls-designate for 65 BC, Publius Autronius Paetus and Publius Cornelius Sulla, followed by the invalidation of the results. They were accused and convicted of ambitus, electoral corruption, preventing them from entering office and expelling them from the senate.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The two other leading candidates, Lucius Manlius Torquatus and Lucius Aurelius Cotta, were elected in a second election and then slated to enter office on the first day of 65 BC in their place. Catiline supposedly became involved when his consular candidacy was rejected by the presiding magistrate for the comitia in 66 BC, Lucius Volcatius Tullus. Cicero's account survives, although scattered over a number of speeches. At various times and contexts, he claimed there was a conspiracy: involving Catiline and Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso to massacre conservative senators some time in 65 BC; involving Autronius, Sulla, and Catiline to make Autronius and Sulla consuls conceived of in 66 and to be executed at the start of 65 BC; mentioning only Catiline with vague activity and goals in December 66 BC; and involving Autronius and Catiline to make themselves consuls. Sallust describes a conspiracy developed in December 66 BC involving Autronius, Catiline, and Piso to make Autronius and Catiline consuls by violence on 1 January 65 BC.

Notable Quotes by First Catilinarian conspiracy

“The core of the legend, a plot by the two consuls-elect for 65 BC to kill and usurp the consuls, is dismissed as inconceivable.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: First Catilinarian conspiracy

True or False: “Modern historians universally accept that the first Catilinarian conspiracy was a genuine threat to the Roman Republic in 65 BC.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Most modern historians believe the conspiracy is fictitious, viewing ancient accounts as slanderous political rumors.

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