Cato Flashcards
What year was Cato tribune?
62 BC
How did Cato benefit from amicitia? And when would he refuse it?
- Cato relied on the patronage of the optimates to push political agenda
- Cato used amicitia of marriage for standing among the optimates
- Cato was backed throughout by the optimates
- Cato refused amicitia if he did not agree with the principles of the individual offering it
- Cato refused amicitia with Pompey, not offering his niece to him
How did Cato improve economic positions for the people as tribune in 62BC?
- introduced a law reducing the price of grain
- he put the proposal before the senate first rather than straight to popular assemblies demonstrating how the office ought to work + shows senate to be sympathetic to the urban poor
How did Cato go against Pompey after the Catiline Conspiracy?
Cato did everything he could to prevent fellow tribune Nepos from speaking (Nepos wanted Pompey to return to Rome to ‘clean up’ remaining Catiline supporters)
How did Cato oppose Pompey in 60BC?
rejected both his policies for land reform + treaties
How did Cato support Pompey in 52BC and why?
Cato supported the proposal that Pompey was to stand as sole consul in 52BC - it was more pragmatic to allow pompey to be the only consul rather than caesar in absentia (lesser of 2 evils)
Cicero’s view of Cato
‘with the best intentions and highest regard for the public, he acts as though he lives in plato’s republic rather than the sewers of rome’
- believes cato clings to unrealistic principles
How did Cato fail to further his cause through a lack of compromise?
- denied all requests to the senate from individuals whom he perceived to be self-seeking such as Pompey + Caesar in the 60’s BC
- demonstrates a lack of pragmatism - except for the one time he backed Pompey as sole consul
When did Cato commit suicide?
46BC
How was Cato at fault for the first triumvirate?
his dogmatic determination to prevent Crassus, Pompey + Caesar gaining any ground forced them to enact together
