Catiline, << KAT uh `lyn` >> (108?-62 B.C.), was a Roman patrician (aristocrat) who led an unsuccessful revolt against the Roman Republic in 63 B.C. His full Latin name was Lucius Sergius Catilina.
Catiline first saw military service during the Social War (91-88 B.C.) between the Roman Republic and its Italian allies. In 68 B.C., he became praetor (chief legal officer of Rome) and governed the province of Africa. Due to his misgovernment of Africa, Catiline was prevented from running for consul in 66 B.C. Consuls were the two highest officials of the republic. According to the Roman historian Sallust, Catiline planned to kill the new consuls in 65 B.C. but did not carry out his plot. Catiline then stood for the consulship of 64 B.C. but was not elected. He tried again in 63 B.C. but again failed, losing to the Roman statesman Cicero. Catiline then began his revolt. A charismatic individual, he drew people of all classes to his side through bribery and by calling for the cancellation of debts.
Cicero learned about Catiline’s conspiracy from an informant. After news reached Rome that Catiline was raising an army, Cicero convinced the Roman Senate to grant him extraordinary powers. Cicero publicly denounced Catiline in a series of speeches before the Senate. Catiline fled from Rome. After Cicero discovered written evidence of the conspiracy, he seized and executed its other leaders. In 62 B.C., the Roman army defeated and killed Catiline.
