Catiline (English spelling) Lucius Sergius Catilina

A nobleman and politician from the late Roman Republic. He was the mastermind behind the conspiracy to overthrow the state from 63 to 62 BC. In his youth, he belonged to the Sultanate and was promoted to praetor in 68 BC. He later served as governor of a North African province, but was accused of collecting taxes improperly, which led to him losing two consul elections. However, he expanded his influence among fallen nobles, bankrupt veterans, and disgruntled poor people, and in 63 BC, with the support of these groups and ambitious senatorial nobles, he plotted to seize power by violent means. Cicero's eloquence in denouncing the Catiline faction was successful, and he was declared a public enemy. He fled to Etruria, but was killed in battle along with the rest of his party.

This conspiracy was a manifestation of the conflict between the "have-nots" and the "haves" in Roman society at the time, and historical documents include Sallust's "The Conspiracy of Catiline" and Cicero's "The Conspiracy of Catiline."

[Ryoji Motomura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

ローマ共和政末期の貴族、政治家。紀元前63～前62年の国家転覆陰謀事件の主謀者。若いころはスラ派に属し、前68年法務官に昇進した。その後、北アフリカの属州総督を務めたが、不当徴収のかどで告発されたことが災いして再度にわたる執政官（コンスル）選挙で落選の憂き目にあった。しかし、彼は零落貴族、破産退役兵、貧民不満分子の間に勢力を広め、前63年これらの徒党や野心的な元老院貴族の支援のもとに暴力的手腕による政権奪取の陰謀を企てた。これに対して、キケロによるカティリナ派弾劾の弁舌が功を奏し、彼は公敵と宣告され、エトルリアに逃れたが残党とともに戦死した。

　この陰謀事件は、当時のローマ社会の「持たざる人々」と「持てる人々」との対立が表面化したものであり、史料にはサルスティウスの『カティリナの陰謀』やキケロの『カティリナ弾劾』などが残存する。

［本村凌二］

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