Roman Republic - Research Paper Example

The differences between Catliana’s approach and those of other factions will also be assessed. The Caitlian conspiracy occurred during a background of economic and social problems that had been plaguing Rome for more than a year. Living conditions were deteriorating for many Italian peasants, levels of debt were rising and so were the numbers of the urban poor; additionally, small farms were declining and there was a shortage of men available to serve in the army.(Cicero and Shapiro ) A radical Roman politician named Lucius Sergius Catiliana was responsible for gathering together a group of Roman nobles who were disaffected, together with farmers who were disaffected in a conspiracy which aimed to overthrow the existing Government at Rome, so that they could take control of the Italian peninsula.

This was a Republican Government that was in power while the proconsul Pompeii the Great was out campaigning in the Near east, together with a majority of the military units that had accompanied him there. Catiliana and his band of rebellious followers were present in the capital Rome, as well as in the province of Eturia. The existence f the conspiracy was uncovered by the conservative, optimate consul, Marcus Tullius Cicero and he successfully drive Catliana and his followers out of Rome. Church (no date) has provided a detailed description of the conspiracy that was organized by Catiliana in his book titled “Roman life in the days of Cicero”.

The actual conspiracy was preceded by an earlier one that aimed to assassinate the new consuls. Church (no date) points out that Catliana was born into a noble family, which had however, fallen into poverty. During the days of Sulla, individuals from similar families that had been former noblemen but had descended into poverty, decided to come together to seize power once again. Catliana was cruel and wicked,