Definition: Lucius Sergius Catilina or Catiline was an important figure in the late Roman Republic. Catiline served in the Social War under Cn. Pompeius Strabo and then under the Roman dictator Sulla in the fighting and the proscriptions. In 68 B.C. Catiline became praetor and then served as governor of Africa. Upon returning to Rome, Catiline was charged with abuse and provincial mismanagement, which kept him from running for consul immediately. He was defended successfully by P. Clodius Pulcher, and ran in 64 for the 63 consulship, but lost to Cicero.
After his defeat, Catiline started to champion the cause of Sullan veterans, the poor, dissolute aristocrats, and the dispossessed. When he was defeated again for the 62 consulship, Catiline started a conspiracy and had to leave Rome. Cicero obtained letters detailing the conspiracy, which he presented to the Senate. The Senate decided on an extra-legal action: to execute the leaders who were then in Rome. Then in January 62, a Roman force under M. Petreius defeated the Catilinarians near Pistoria and killed Catiline.
The main sources on Catiline are Sallust and Cicero.
Reference:
E. Badian " Sergius Catilina, Lucius " The Oxford Classical Dictionary . Simon Hornblower and Anthony Spawforth. © Oxford University Press 1949, 1970, 1996, 2005.
