Gaius Cornelius Cethegus (died 63 BC) was a Roman senator and politician.

Life

Like many other youthful profligates, he joined the conspiracy in the hope of getting his debts cancelled. When Catiline left Rome in 63 BC, Cethegus remained behind as leader of the conspirators with Publius Cornelius Lentulus Sura. He himself undertook to murder Cicero and other prominent men, but was hampered by the dilatoriness of Sura, whose age and rank entitled him to the chief consideration. On 3 December 63 BC, the consul

Cicero Marcus Tullius Cicero ( ; ; 3 January 106 BC – 7 December 43 BC) was a Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, and academic skeptic, who tried to uphold optimate principles during the political crises that led to the esta ...

made public several letters from the conspirators inciting the Gallic

Allobroges The Allobroges (Gaulish: *''Allobrogis'', 'foreigner, exiled'; grc, Ἀλλοβρίγων, Ἀλλόβριγες) were a Gallic people dwelling in a large territory between the Rhône river and the Alps during the Iron Age and the Roman period. ...

to revolt. One of these had been written and signed by Cethegus, implicating him beyond doubt. He was arrested and moved to the

Temple of Concord The Temple of Concord ( la, Aedes Concordiae) in the ancient city of Rome refers to a series of shrines or temples dedicated to the Roman goddess Concordia, and erected at the western end of the Roman Forum. The earliest temple is believed t ...

, then put under house arrest in the home of a trusted senator, Qunitus Cornificius. Cicero's allies discovered a cache of swords and daggers in Cethegus' house meant for the conspirators' use. A debate in the Senate on the topic of whether or not to execute the conspirators ended in the decision to do so and Cethegus and the others were strangled in the

Tullianum The Mamertine Prison ( it, Carcere Mamertino), in antiquity the Tullianum, was a prison (''carcer'') with a dungeon ('' oubliette'') located in the Comitium in ancient Rome. It is said to have been built in the 7th century BC and was situated o ...

prison on 4 December.Sallust, ''Catilinarian Conspiracy'', LV

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cornelius Cethegus, Gaius 63 BC deaths Catilinarians

Gaius Gaius, sometimes spelled ''Gajus'', Kaius, Cajus, Caius, was a common Latin praenomen; see Gaius (praenomen). People * Gaius (jurist) (), Roman jurist *Gaius Acilius *Gaius Antonius * Gaius Antonius Hybrida *Gaius Asinius Gallus * Gaius Asiniu ...

People executed by the Roman Republic Roman patricians Senators of the Roman Republic