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Gaius Cornelius CethegusRoman statesman, participant in the Catiline conspiracy.
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 Italy |
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Gaius Cornelius Cethegus
Gaius Cornelius Cethegus was a Roman politician and member of the Catilinarian Conspiracy. He was the son of Calpurnia and the cousin of Lucius Calpurnius Piso Caesoninus, the consul in 58 BC. Cethegus had a brother, also named Cornelius Cethegus (born circa 95 BC), who supported his brother's death sentence and that of the other conspirators at a senate meeting on December 5, 63 BC.
Early Career
From 78 to 71 BC, Cethegus served as a contubernalis under Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius in Spain. He was suspected of plotting to assassinate Metellus Pius.
Political Involvement
In 63 BC, Cethegus held the office of quaestor. The same year, Lucius Aemilius Lepidus Paullus attempted to bring him to trial on charges of violence but did not pursue the case. From 64 BC, Cethegus became an active participant in the conspiracy led by Lucius Sergius Catilina.
The Catilinarian Conspiracy
In late October 63 BC, after Catilina fled to Etruria, where Gaius Manlius was inciting the disenfranchised Etruscans to revolt, Cethegus and Publius Cornelius Lentulus Sura led the conspiracy in Rome. Cethegus urged immediate and decisive action, demanding the deaths of several consuls and praetors, including Cicero. Cethegus's house was where the conspirators stored weapons. After Cicero intercepted letters to the leaders of the Allobroges, which were signed by the leaders of the conspiracy, Cethegus was arrested and imprisoned in the house of Quintus Cornificius. Even from prison, he attempted to organize a revolt.
Execution
On December 5, 63 BC, by Senate decree but without a formal trial, Cethegus, Lentulus Sura, Publius Gabinius Capito, Marcus Caeparius, and Lucius Statilius were executed.
