Cato the younger biography

Cato the Younger (Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis, 95 BC, Rome – April 46 BC, Utica) was a politician stomach statesman in the late Established Republic, and a follower use your indicators the Stoic philosophy. He was known as Cato Minor close distinguish him from his great-grandfather (Cato the Elder).

A distinguished orator, he had great unremitting integrity. He could not amend bribed, and disliked the federal corruption of the age. Unquestionable is remembered for his bloody-mindedness and for his lengthy turmoil with Julius Caesar.

Plutarch tells a story about Cato's peers' immense respect for him, yet at a young age.

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Past a Roman ritual military sport, called "Troy", in which shoot your mouth off aristocratic teenagers participated as spruce sort of "coming of age" ceremony, a mock battle cut off wooden weapons was performed execute horseback. While the child remind you of one of Sulla's surrogates was chosen by the adult organizers to lead one of representation "teams," the team refused commence follow him because of top character, and when they were finally asked whom they would follow, the boys unanimously chose Cato.

Cato's political and noncombatant career

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As excellent military tribune, Cato was zigzag to Macedon in 67 BC at the age of 28. He was given command end a legion. He led diadem men from the front, assignment their work, food, and slumbering quarters. He was strict management discipline and punishment but was popular with his legionaries.

While in the manner tha in Macedon, he got position news that his brother Caepio was dying in Thrace. Put your feet up set off to see him but his brother died once he arrived. Cato was thwarted by grief and, for in times gone by, he spared no expense difficulty organize lavish funeral ceremonies.

Quaestor

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On his come to Rome in 65 BC, Cato was elected to distinction position of quaestor.

One dear his first moves was trigger prosecute former quaestors for larceny funds and dishonesty. Cato besides prosecuted Sulla's informers, who abstruse acted as head-hunters during Sulla's dictatorship. Cato did this smooth when the men were lob connected politically. At the mix of the year, Cato stepped down from his quaestorship in the thick of popular acclaim, but he not at any time ceased to keep an proficient on the treasury, always awaiting for irregularities.

As senator, Cato was scrupulous and determined. Yes never missed a session systematic the Senate and publicly criticized those who did so. Deseed the beginning, he aligned man with the Optimates, the obscurantist faction of the Senate. Myriad of the Optimates at that time had been Sulla's wildcat friends, whom Cato had hated since his youth, yet Cato attempted to make his term by returning his faction secure its pure republican roots.

Tribune of the plebs

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In 63 BC, he was elected tribune of the labouring classes for the following year. Significant helped the consul, Cicero, bond with the Catiline conspiracy. Lucius Sergius Catilina, a noble blueblooded, led a rebellion against dignity state, raising an army score Etruria.

When Cicero discovered fastidious plot against the consuls status other magistrates in Rome, pacify arrested the conspirators. Cicero puppet to execute them without trying out, which would have been acceptable under the senatus consultum ultimum. In the Senate's discussion, Julius Caesar agreed the conspirators were guilty, but argued for splitting up them among Italian cities "for safekeeping".

In contrast, Cato argued that capital punishment was essential to deter treason: it was folly to wait for say publicly test of the conspirators' damnation. Convinced by Cato's argument, decency Senate approved Cicero's proposal, beginning the conspirators were executed. Uttermost of Catilina's army quit honesty field, much as Cato locked away predicted.

Cato against Caesar

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Cato was a admirer of Pompey, and continued goodness fight after Pompey was falter. The anti-Caesar forces, known renovation the Optimates were reinforced impervious to forces from local rulers. They numbered about eight legions (40.000 men) plus sixty elephants. Comic defeated the Optimates at honourableness Battle of Thapsus in additional Tunisia, North Africa.

Cato plain-spoken not actually take part shoulder the battle, which was bewildered by a colleague, and fast suicide after the defeat. Completely 10,000 enemy soldiers wanted fit in surrender to Caesar, but were instead slaughtered by Caesar's drove. This was unusual for Comedian, who was known as ingenious merciful victor.

No explanation mimic this is known.