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Who was Catiline, Cicero’s rival for the consulship?

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Marble bust of Marcus Tullius Cicero, shown with short hair and draped clothing, displayed against a black background. — Cicero Marcus Tullius Cicero, detail of a marble bust; in the Capitoline Museums, Rome.

Catiline (Lucius Sergius Catilina, c. 108–62 BCE) was a Roman patrician and politician who became a notorious conspirator against Cicero.123

An aristocrat with a controversial reputation, Catiline served as praetor in 68 BCE and later governed the province of Africa. He is best known for his failed attempts to secure the consulship through bribery and intrigue, eventually losing to Cicero in the election for 63 BCE. Following these defeats, Catiline organized an armed insurrection aimed at overthrowing the government, championing the cause of the poor and those burdened by debt.13

As consul, Cicero monitored the conspiracy through a network of informants and eventually denounced Catiline in the Senate, leading to the declaration of martial law. While his co-conspirators in Rome were executed, Catiline fled the city to lead his forces in Etruria. He was ultimately killed in battle at Pistoria in 62 BCE.143