Catiline Conspiracy

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Catiline was born into a wealthy family and thus had many patrician friends. Due to his high patrician status, he was thought to win the election easily. When Catiline ran for consul he ran his campaign on an advocacy of debt forgiveness because he had nearly gone bankrupt himself. The rich realized that if Catiline won, there would be huge economic reform. His supporters were the victims who suffered under Sulla’s rule, the people who were stripped of their property. Catiline despised the oligarchy that ruled Rome and wanted reform. Although his campaign appealed to many plebeians who were poor and in need of debt forgiveness, he was defeated several times in his many campaigns for consul. After Catiline lost for the last time, he put together an army made up of his supporters from the elections. Catiline’s army was yet another piece of evidence Cicero used against him. The night Cicero made his speech to the Senate, Catiline fled Rome to join his army.

The conspirators that were left in Rome were executed under Cicero’s order. The execution of criminals without a trial was illegal in the late Roman Republic. By this time Cicero had forced Catiline to leave Rome and executed the rest of Catiline’s supporters. Cicero wanted the people of Rome to believe he had rid the state of evil and brought peace. In his fourth oration he states: “…for this diligence in saving the republic which you behold, I ask nothing of you but the recollection of this time and of my whole consulship.” (Cicero 104). It is apparent that Cicero wanted to be remembered as an honorable hero and a noble patrician.

The political system of the late Roman Republic had a heavy influence on its citizens. Honor was something all Roman citizens wanted and strived for. Patricians were rich and lived a privilege life; while plebeians were poor and struggled for everything they had. Cicero who was once a plebian climbed his way up the social ladder and was one of the first novus homos. His persistent pursuance of honor was driven by his want to be considered as one of the senate. Catiline on the other hand was a born patrician, whose honor was constantly questioned. He ran for the position of consul for several elections, and lost every time. Catiline’s actions were motivated by his disliking of the political oligarchy that ruled Rome. Cicero made four orations against Lucius Catiline. The purpose of these orations was for Cicero to convince the senate and public that Catiline was a public enemy. By convincing everyone that Catiline was dangerous, Cicero would be the savior of the state by relieving Rome of this threat. This would provide Cicero with so much honor that he could finally be considered equal with the highest patricians and be remember as a hero forever. The political system of Rome influenced Cicero and Catiline differently. Cicero wanted to climb the cursus honorum while Catiline wanted political reform.

Works Cited:

- Cicero, Marcus Tullius, and Michael Grant. Selected Political Speeches of Cicero. Penguin, 1989.