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"Sallust, Gaius Sallustius Crispus (86-35 BCE), a Sabine from Amiternum, acted against Cicero and Milo as tribune in 52, joined Caesar after being expelled from the Senate in 50, was restored to the senate by Caesar and took part in his African campaign as praetor in 46, and was then appointed governor of New Africa (Numidia). Upon his return to Rome he narrowly escaped conviction for malfeasance in office, retired from public life, and took up historiography. Sallust's two extant monographs take as their theme the moral and political decline of Rome, one on the conspiracy of Catiline and the other on the war with Jugurtha. Although Sallust is decidedly unsubtle and partisan in analyzing people and events, his works are important and significantly influenced later historians, notably Tacitus. Taking Thucydides as his model but building on Roman stylistic and rhetorical traditions, Sallust achieved a distinctive style, concentrated and arresting; lively characterizations, especially in the speeches; and skill at using particular episodes to illustrate large general themes"--Publisher website.… (more)
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Jugurtha, rebel king of Numidia in North Africa, was the grandson of Massinissa- an important Roman ally during the 2nd Punic War with Carthage. Sallust describes in readable fashion the general themes of the war. First, Roman victory in battle but inability to strike a complete blow against Jugurtha's cavalry and guerilla style tactics. Second, sharp negotiations and diplomacy (sometimes bribery) by which Rome ultimately secured the assistance of Mauritanian king Bocchus (Jugurtha's father-in-law) to betray Jugurtha. Perhaps most interesting is the involvement by the youthful Marius and Sulla, both of whom were destined for greatness at a later date.
Catiline was a colorful politician who, after several failed attempts at the consulship, conspired with various disaffected Roman elements in an unsuccessful attempt to gain power (he even went so far as to contact a tribe of Gauls in Northen Italy). After his plot was discovered, Sallust describes fascinating orations for clemency (by a young Julius Caesar) and against (by Cicero). Ultimately, Cicero's camp prevailed, and many conspirators were executed. Catiline was destroyed along with his army by a Roman legion shortly thereafter. To this day historians dispute the extent of the conspiracy (some even claim Caesar's involvement or at least knowledge) and Catiline's true motivations.
In my opinion, Sallust is one of most interesting of the ancient historians. Recommended reading.
"The Conspiracy of Catiline" is a tale of
Sallust explains, from a rather cynical perspective, the cause and effect of historical events, and the motives of the individuals involved. He also makes interesting contrasts between political foes of the period: Gaius Marius and Sulla, the former an equestrian, known more for his military achievements than statesmanship, the latter a patrician who excels in both generalship and statesmanship, a forerunner of Julius Caesar, who in turn is contrasted with Cato the Younger, one generous and lenient and the other righteous and unrelenting.