Catiline, Rebel of the Roman Republic: The Life and Conspiracy of Lucius Sergius Catilina by James T Carney

Author:James T Carney
Format: epub

This was Cicero’s finest hour – and the hour of his downfall.

The populace would not remain favourably disposed for long – partly because Cicero could not stop boasting about his suppression of the conspiracy.¹⁰³ However, the period of public hysteria continued for a while enabling Cicero and the optimates to investigate any whom they suspected of involvement with or sympathy for the conspirators.¹⁰⁴ Cicero allegedly summoned for interrogation not only those against whom he had specific information, but also many whom he only suspected of involvement. Many of these interrogations were conducted in his own home, a fact which later gave rise to the rumour that he used these investigations to extort large sums of money from many indiscreet citizens.¹⁰⁵

It was during this period that Caesar went to the senate to defend himself against charges that he was involved in the conspiracy. His defence provoked uproar. As the senate deliberations continued longer than usual that day, Caesar’ supporters outside the senate became alarmed that the meeting would end in Caesar’s death. They descended on the senate house and demanded, successfully, that Caesar be permitted to depart.¹⁰⁶ Such was the spirit of the times.

Almost immediately following the execution of the conspirators, opposition began to arise to the dominance of Cicero. Leading this opposition was the new tribune, Q. Metellus Nepos. Nepos, a capable soldier, had served under Pompey (who was married to Nepos’ stepsister, Mucia) in the war with Mithridates.¹⁰⁷ With the end of that conflict in sight by the spring of 63, Pompey had taken thought for his political future and sent Nepos to Rome to seek election to the tribuneship, which Nepos could then use to further Pompey’s interests. Nepos left Asia and took a ship to Brundisium in Apulia (the port in Italy nearest to Greece and the East) where he took the road north to Rome. On the way, his baggage train encountered Cato, who was traveling south to his estate in Lucania. Cato had recently declined to run for the tribuneship on the grounds that a great office, like a strong medicine, should not be taken on unless needed. Upon learning of Nepos’ plans, Cato stopped without a word, thought for a while, and then announced to his astounded companions that he must return to the city and seek the tribuneship in order to oppose Nepos. Cato believed that Pompey had sent Nepos to assist Pompey in overthrowing the Republic. He told his companions ‘There is no time for rest for we must defeat Pompey or die in the attempt.’ Pausing only to spend the night at his estate, Cato returned to Rome where he sought the tribuneship, much to the unhappiness of Nepos, who realized that Cato as a tribune could negate all of his proposals. However, Nepos could no more prevent Cato’s election than Cato his: both entered into their offices on 10 December 63.¹⁰⁸

Nepos, an astute politician, realized that the Catilinarian fiasco had weakened the popularis leaders like Crassus and Caesar, while the witch hunt was creating a backlash against Cicero and the optimates.

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