Professor Catherine Steel

And he's been making various inflammatory statements up to this point, but this seems to be the moment at which Catiline tips over into more direct action in order to secure his position. The whole thing is quite murky. There is an armed uprising.

what exactly Catiline was planning in the city of Rome and at what point he chooses to join forces with the armed uprising in Etruria is less clear, but certainly he ends the year in a position of open revolt against Rome. Now, some people thought that Caesar was part of this conspiracy.

what exactly Catiline was planning in the city of Rome and at what point he chooses to join forces with the armed uprising in Etruria is less clear, but certainly he ends the year in a position of open revolt against Rome. Now, some people thought that Caesar was part of this conspiracy.

what exactly Catiline was planning in the city of Rome and at what point he chooses to join forces with the armed uprising in Etruria is less clear, but certainly he ends the year in a position of open revolt against Rome. Now, some people thought that Caesar was part of this conspiracy.

Some people didn't think Caesar was part of the conspiracy, but tried to make it seem as though he was in order to blacken his name. There are plans to name him as a Catilinarian adherent in the great debates in December, which fail. And actually, Cicero does not leave open the door for that. But the really striking thing is the debate on December the 5th. 63 BC.

Some people didn't think Caesar was part of the conspiracy, but tried to make it seem as though he was in order to blacken his name. There are plans to name him as a Catilinarian adherent in the great debates in December, which fail. And actually, Cicero does not leave open the door for that. But the really striking thing is the debate on December the 5th. 63 BC.

Some people didn't think Caesar was part of the conspiracy, but tried to make it seem as though he was in order to blacken his name. There are plans to name him as a Catilinarian adherent in the great debates in December, which fail. And actually, Cicero does not leave open the door for that. But the really striking thing is the debate on December the 5th. 63 BC.

Because what has happened at that point? Catiline has left the city of Rome and is at the head of the armed forces in Etruria. There is considerable alarm about that in Rome at the time, though in practice, the military mopping up in January will be relatively straightforward.

Because what has happened at that point? Catiline has left the city of Rome and is at the head of the armed forces in Etruria. There is considerable alarm about that in Rome at the time, though in practice, the military mopping up in January will be relatively straightforward.

Because what has happened at that point? Catiline has left the city of Rome and is at the head of the armed forces in Etruria. There is considerable alarm about that in Rome at the time, though in practice, the military mopping up in January will be relatively straightforward.

It's just north of Rome, yeah. Tuscany. What is more alarming is that there were envoys ambassadors in Rome for one of the tribes in Gaul, the Allobroges, who were based in southern Gaul and who had come to Rome to complain about rapacious behavior by Roman administrators and traders and so on.

It's just north of Rome, yeah. Tuscany. What is more alarming is that there were envoys ambassadors in Rome for one of the tribes in Gaul, the Allobroges, who were based in southern Gaul and who had come to Rome to complain about rapacious behavior by Roman administrators and traders and so on.

It's just north of Rome, yeah. Tuscany. What is more alarming is that there were envoys ambassadors in Rome for one of the tribes in Gaul, the Allobroges, who were based in southern Gaul and who had come to Rome to complain about rapacious behavior by Roman administrators and traders and so on.

The Catilinarian conspirators in the city of Rome attempted to suborn these men to join with them and therefore to instigate an uprising in southern Gaul to be simultaneous with the military activity in Etruria and it is alleged elsewhere in Italy. And the Allobroges decide this isn't actually a particularly good offer and they tell Cicero about it. And Cicero says, okay.

The Catilinarian conspirators in the city of Rome attempted to suborn these men to join with them and therefore to instigate an uprising in southern Gaul to be simultaneous with the military activity in Etruria and it is alleged elsewhere in Italy. And the Allobroges decide this isn't actually a particularly good offer and they tell Cicero about it. And Cicero says, okay.

The Catilinarian conspirators in the city of Rome attempted to suborn these men to join with them and therefore to instigate an uprising in southern Gaul to be simultaneous with the military activity in Etruria and it is alleged elsewhere in Italy. And the Allobroges decide this isn't actually a particularly good offer and they tell Cicero about it. And Cicero says, okay.

What I think you should do is get some letters from the men you're talking to in which they set out and guarantee their support. And then I think you ought to set off back for Gaul. And I will arrange for you to be captured as you're leaving Rome and your possessions searched. And we will find those letters.

What I think you should do is get some letters from the men you're talking to in which they set out and guarantee their support. And then I think you ought to set off back for Gaul. And I will arrange for you to be captured as you're leaving Rome and your possessions searched. And we will find those letters.

What I think you should do is get some letters from the men you're talking to in which they set out and guarantee their support. And then I think you ought to set off back for Gaul. And I will arrange for you to be captured as you're leaving Rome and your possessions searched. And we will find those letters.

And Cicero sets this up, and it happens, and therefore he is in a position, Cicero is in a position to bring to the Senate, which he does on December the 3rd, five letters in which various Romans reveal their treacherous plotting. And what is particularly horrifying about this is some of these Romans are quite senior.