Sallust

1 standalone book

Gaius Sallustius Crispus, known as Sallust, was a Roman historian and politician who lived from 86 to c. 35 BC. He was born in Amiternum, in the Sabine region, into a well-known plebeian family. Sallust aligned himself with the popularis faction, opposing Pompey's party and the Roman aristocracy. He held the positions of quaestor in 55 BC and tribune of the people in 52 BC. He supported the prosecution of Milo after the killing of Clodius and had conflicts with the orator Cicero. Sallust was a strong supporter of Caesar, who helped him regain his seat in the Senate after he was removed by the censor in 50 BC. He served as a praetor in 46 BC and accompanied Caesar during the African campaign, which ended in the defeat of the Pompeian forces at Thapsus. As a reward, he was appointed governor of Africa Nova, where he was accused of oppression and extortion. He later retired from public life, focusing on historical writing and the development of his gardens on the Quirinal, known as the Horti Sallustiani.