Sallustius (English spelling) Gaius Sallustius Crispus

A historian of ancient Rome. Born in the Sabine city of Amiternum in central Italy. He began his career as a senator and was devoted to Caesar. He followed the former during the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, and later served as governor of the province of Africa Nova from 46 to 45 BC. After Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC, he retired from politics and devoted himself to historical writing. Among his surviving works are De Catilinae Coniuratione (The Conspiracy of Catiline), which deals with political events in the 60s BC, and Bellum Jugurthinum (The Jugurthinian War), which deals with the war between Rome and King Jugurtha of Numidia from 111 to 105 BC. Most of his Historiae (History), which covers Roman history from 78 to 67 BC, has been lost. In addition to these, there are two extant works, " Invectiva in Ciceronem " and " Epistulae ad Caesarem ", but both are disputed as to whether they are genuine or forgeries. He was already well-known as a great historian in ancient times.

[Tadanori Yoshimura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

古代ローマの歴史家。イタリア半島中部のサビニ人の都市アミテルヌム出身。初め元老院議員としての経歴を歩み、カエサルに心服。カエサルとポンペイウスとの内乱では前者に従い、のち紀元前46～前45年にはアフリカ・ノワ州の総督を務めた。前44年にカエサルが暗殺されると政界を退き、歴史著述に専念した。作品としては、前60年代の政治事件を扱った『カティリナの陰謀』De Catilinae Coniuratione、前111～前105年のヌミディア王ユグルタとローマとの戦争を扱った『ユグルタ戦記』Bellum Jugurthinumが現存。前78～前67年のローマ史を扱った『歴史』Historiaeは大部分が散逸した。ほかに『キケロ弾劾演説』Invectiva in Ciceronemと『カエサル宛(あて)書簡』Epistulae ad Caesarem2編とが現存するが、いずれも真作か偽作かが争われている。彼はすでに古代から大歴史家としての定評がある。

［吉村忠典］

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