Sallust

Gaius Sallustius Crispus, usually known as Sallust, was a historian and politician from the Roman Republic. He came from a regular family and was born in a place called Amiternum, in the land of the Sabines. Sallust supported Julius Caesar around the 50s BC.

Sallust is famous because he was the earliest Roman writer in Latin whose works still exist today. His most well-known books include the Conspiracy of Catiline, which tells about a secret plan, and The Jugurthine War, which describes a war. He also wrote The Histories, but only pieces of that book have survived.

Like many people in powerful positions, Sallust gathered a lot of wealth during his time as a leader in Africa, though it was said he did not always get it in honest ways. His writing was heavily inspired by the Greek historian Thucydides, who lived in the 5th century BC.

Life and career

Sallust was likely born in Amiternum in Central Italy. He came from a noble family of Sabine origin, though not part of Rome's ruling class. He received a good education and later entered public life.

Sallust became involved in politics and served in various roles. During the civil war between Julius Caesar and Pompey, he supported Caesar. After the war, he was given the job of governing a new area. However, he faced accusations of unfair practices. Later in life, he stopped his political career and focused on writing history, creating important works for future generations. He also became well known for his beautiful gardens in Rome.

Works

Sallust wrote two famous books that we still have today. The first is called Catiline's War, which tells the story of a man named Lucius Sergius Catilina who tried to take over Rome in 63 BC. Sallust wrote this book around 42 BC, and it shows how he thought Rome's morals were getting worse over time.

The second book is The Jugurthine War, which is about a war Rome fought in a place called Numidia from 112 to 106 BC. Sallust wrote this book around 41–40 BC too. It talks about two important Roman leaders, Marius and Sulla, and how they started to compete against each other.

Sallust also started a bigger history book called Historiae, covering events from 78 BC, but most of it is lost. Only a small piece from the year 67 BC still exists. Sadly, we don’t have the rest of this work, which would have told us more about important events like wars led by Pompey and Lucullus.

Main article: Bellum Catilinae

Main article: Bellum Jugurthinum

See also: Epistula Mithridatis

Style and themes

Sallust's writing focused on the idea of decline in Rome. He believed this decline was caused by political and moral problems, which came from Rome's great power and wealth. He thought the civil wars were a result of these issues, especially after Rome defeated Carthage in 146 BC and gained wealth from places like the east.

Sallust's style was very different from other Roman writers like Caesar and Cicero. His writing was short and used unusual words and phrases, making it quite formal and not like everyday speech. He avoided common political words and used rare forms of well-known words. His style was meant to remind readers of the simple, strict life of ancient Romans, contrasting it with the more decorated style of his time. His way of writing influenced later Roman and Renaissance thinkers.

Reception

As a historian

People in ancient times liked Sallust as a historian. Famous writers like Tacitus and Quintilian spoke well of him. Others, such as Martial, Jerome, and Virgil, also praised his work. His books were studied in schools and influenced many thinkers over the years, including Thomas Aquinas, Niccolò Machiavelli, and Thomas More.

Later historians found faults in Sallust's writing. They said he was unfair in his views and made mistakes. Some felt his stories were too simple and focused too much on right and wrong rather than showing the real complexity of Rome's problems. Even so, his books shaped how we see Rome today. Though his tales sometimes stretch the truth, they give us important clues about life in ancient Rome.

Stylistically

Many writers borrowed from Sallust's work. Figures like Silius Italicus, Lucan, and Plutarch used his stories. Others appreciated his unique style, though some critics found it too strange or hard to follow. Over time, his books remained popular and were used in schools to teach Latin. Even famous people like Petrarch and Friedrich Nietzsche admired his way of writing.

Manuscripts

Many old copies of Sallust's writings have survived because people liked his work a lot. These copies are divided into two types: damaged ones and complete ones. The difference is that some copies have a small missing part in the middle of one of his books.

The oldest copies we still have today were made around the year 800 AD. These old copies only include two of Sallust's books. Later copies made around 1000 AD are more complete.

There is also one special copy that only includes speeches and letters from Sallust's books. Some pieces of paper from very old times also have small parts of Sallust's writing on them. Other writers from the past sometimes mentioned Sallust's work, and these mentions help us learn more about his writing, even though they might not always be perfectly accurate.

Translations

Here are some translations of Sallust's work into modern English. These books make it easier for people today to read what Sallust wrote long ago. Each book has a different translator and was published in different years.