Catilina. Le faux populiste

The portrait of a “subversive” Catiline, as argued by Cicero, only became canon after Sallust. At first, another image was opposed to it – probably not a leading idea, but a well-documented one, forcefully reused by Mark Antony in his attacks against Cicero during the autumn of 44. This controversy blamed Cicero for having led Catiline to take arms against Rome and having abused his power. 20 years after the events, the history of Cicero’s consulate was thus not written in his definitive form and still highly controversial. Indeed, Catiline had never been a major popularis reformer; his efforts were simply aimed at getting the consulate to reach the top of his career ladder. He had never been a revolutionary either, nor a “putschist” – he always remained a loser.