Catilinarian

Catilinarian is an English adjective and noun derived from the name Catiline, most often referring to matters connected with the Roman senator Lucius Sergius Catilina (Catiline). In historical and literary contexts, the term commonly designates the Catiline conspiracy or things related to Catiline and his era.

Lucius Sergius Catilina was a Roman noble and politician who, in 63 BCE, attempted to overthrow the Roman Republic. The Catiline conspiracy aimed to seize power through assassination, debt relief promises to certain factions, and a general upheaval that would topple the existing magistrates. The plot was exposed by the consul and orator Marcus Tullius Cicero, whose series of speeches against Catiline are known as the Catilinarian Orations. These orations, delivered in the Senate, argued for severe measures against the conspirators and became a notable example of Roman political rhetoric.

Catilinarian often appears in discussions of Roman history to describe the conspiracy itself (the Catiline conspiracy) or the governmental and rhetorical responses to it. The conspiracy collapsed after Cicero’s actions, and Catiline died in 62 BCE at the Battle of Pistoria while opposing Roman forces.

In modern usage, Catilinarian can also reference scholarly works on the topic, such as studies of the conspiracy, the Catilinarian Orations, or debates about Roman political culture in the late Republic. The term thus functions as both a historical label and a descriptive term in classical studies.