A

Ahāla, -ae: m.: Caius Servilius Ahala was master of the horse to the dictator Cincinnatus, 439 B.C. Spurius Maelius, one of the Equites, bought corn at a low rate and distributed it gratuitiously to the poor. By this he gained the favour of the plebeians, but incurred the enmity of the patricians. When he was summoned by the dictator to appear on the charge of aiming at royal power, he refused, and Ahala, with an armed band, rushed into the crowd where he was standing, and slew him. Cicero often praises the deed of Ahala, but it is doubtful whether it can be defended.

E

Etrūrĭa, -ae: f.: a large district of Italy, lying west and north of the Tiber. This part of Italy was generally favorable to Catiline. In it were Faesulae, and Pistoria, where Catiline fell, 62 B.C.

F

Faesulae, ārum: f.: now Fiesole, near Florentia (Florence), in Etruria. Here Catiline raised the standard of rebellion.

Fŏrum Aurēlĭum, Fŏri Aurēlĭi: n.: a town of Etruria, on the Aurelian way; now Monte Alto.

Flaccus, -i: m.: M. Fulvius Flaccus was charged with the execution of the Agrarian law of the Gracchi, and aided Tib. Gracchus to gain for all the Italians the rights of Roman citizenship. He was cited along with the consul Opimius to render an account of his conduct with regard to the revolutionary measures then proposed. This he refused to obey, and was slain along with his eldest son.

Fulvius, -i: m.: see preceding.

G

Gracchus, -i: m.: Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus and Caius Sempronius Gracchus were sons of Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus and of Cornelia, Daughter of Scipio Africanus Major. The object of both brothers was to have the public lands divided and given to the poor, by allowing no one to hold more than 500 jugera of land. The state was to compensate the wealthy for all the loss. Both brothers fell in the sedition that arose out of their revolutionary schemes: Tiberius in 132 B.C., and Caius in 122 B.C.

I

Itălĭa, -ae: f.: Italy, a country of Southern Europe.

J

Jānŭārĭus, -a, -um: adj.: of or belonging to January.

Juppĭter, Jŏvis: m.: Juppiter, the supreme god of Roman mythology.

L

Laeca, -ae: m.: M. Porcius Laeca, an accomplice of Catiline, who convened at his house the leading members of the conspiracy.

Lĕpĭdus, -i: m.: M’. Lepidus, consul with L. Volcatius Tullus 67 B.C.

Lĕpĭdus, -i: m.: M. Lepidus, consul with Catulus 79 B.C.

M

Maelĭus, -i: m.: Spurius Maelius, a Roman Eques, who attempted to gain regal power at Rome by securing the favour of the plebeians 449 B.C. This he tried to do by supplying corn at a low rate. He was summoned to appear before Cincinnatus, the dictator, but refused, and was slain by Ahala.

Manlĭānus, -a, -um: adj.: of or belonging to Manlius.

Manlĭus, -i: m.: Caius Manlius, an accomplice of Catiline, and sent to Etruria to collect troops. He commanded the right wing of Catiline’s army at Pistoria, and “foremost fighting fell.”

Marcellus, -i: m.: Marcus Marcellus, an accomplice and intimate friend of Catiline.

Mĕtellus, -i: m.: Q. Caecilius Metellus Celer, praetor in 63 B.C. He was despatched by Cicero into the Gallic and Picene districts to raise a force against Catiline. He was consul 61 B.C., and poisoned by his wife Clodia 59 B.C.

N

Nŏvembris, -e: adj.: belonging to November.

O

Opīmĭus, -i: m.: Lucius Opimius was consul in 122 B.C. He opposed the designs of C. Gracchus.

P

Pălātĭum, -i: n.: the Palatine hill was the largest of the seven hills on which Rome was built. Romulus laid here the foundation of the city, and here in the imperial period were the residences of the Roman emperors.

Praeneste, -is: n.: now Palestrina, an ancient city of Latium, 23 miles S.E. of Rome. Its citadel was remarkable for the strength of its position.

R

Rōma, -ae: f.: Rome, a celebrated town on the Tiber.

Rōmānus, -a, -um: adj.: of or belonging to Rome: Roman.

Rōmŭlus, -i: m.; the founder of Rome and king of the city from 753-715 B.C.

S

Sāturnīnus, -i: m.: L. Saturninus, a tribune of the people and a violent partisan of Marius, who abetted him in his numerous misdeeds. He is said to have caused the death of C. Memmius 102 B.C. At length, after many cruel acts, the people became aroused against him, and he was slain in the forum.

Scīpĭo, -ōnis: m.: P. Cornelius Scipio Nasīca was consul 138 B.C. His character was held in the highest estimation by his countrymen. He opposed the measures of Gracchi. After the death of Tiberius Gracchus, unpopularity overtook Scipio, and he was sent to Asia, where he died of chagrin.

Servilius, -i: m.: C. Servilius Glaucia, a seditious and profligate individual, put to death 121 B.C.

Stator: “the flight staying:” an epithet of Juppiter.

T

Tullĭus, -i: m.: M. Tullius Cicero. See Introduction.

Tullus, -i: m.: See M’. Lepidus.

V

Vălērĭus, -i: m.: L. Valerius a partner of Marius in the consulship, 121 B.C.