1. Statesman, Historian

2.  Born Gauis Sallustis Crispus in the small Italian town of Amiternum in Central Italy in 86 B.C.  The nomen Sallustii belonged to a noble clan of the equestrian class  Due to being born of such privilege, Sallust received an excellent education in his early years

3.  Sallust may have first held the rank of Quaestor in 55 B.C.  It is certain that he became Tribune of the Plebs in 52 B.C.  In 52 B.C., Titus Annius Milo killed Publius Clodius Pulcher in a street-fight near Bovillae on the Appian Way  Sallust supported the prosecution of Milo, becoming an opponent of Cicero

4.  From the beginning of his political career, Sallust was an ardent supporter of Caesar  In 50 B.C., the censor Appius Claudius Pulcher removed him from the Senate on grounds of “gross immorality” (likely because of his intense dislike for Cicero)  The follow year, rather mysteriously, Sallust was reinstated. Many believe Caesar was involved in his return  In 46 B.C., he was elected to the rank of Praetor and accompanied Caesar on his African campaign which culminated in the decisive defeat of Pompey’s remaining forces at Thapsus

5.  As a reward for his services in the African campaign, Sallust was rewarded governorship of Africa Nova (Numidia)  He acquired incredible amounts of wealth while governor  While governor, he extorted and oppressed the people of his province so much that only Caesar prevented him from being brought to trial

6.  Upon his return to Rome, he spent much of his wealth building the Gardens of Sallust (Horti Sallustiani) on the Quirinal hill  The Gardens of Sallust were immense gardens that were maintained for over 400 years, eventually being owned by the Emperor  Temples and beautiful sculptures were scattered through out the gardens  In his retirement, Sallust devoted himself to historical literature

7.  Sallust is known for writing an account of the Cataline conspiracy (De conjuratione Catilinae), the Jugurthine War (Bellum Jugurthinum), and a history of Rome from 78- 67 B.C. (Historiae)

8.  As compared to Caesar’s style, which is quite regular and controlled in flow, Sallust’s style is strong and abrupt– “volcanic” in nature.  He places great emphasis on the individuality of the characters and is known for possessing an incredible eye for detail  His writings were incredibly popular due to their intense nature, being widely read into the 2 nd century

9.  Sallust’s first published work, it details Cataline’s conspiracy in 63 B.C.  Cataline is portrayed as a foe of law, order, and morality  The historical account is known as a drastic departure from the past styles of Roman historians, Sallust injects his own opinions and values to give it flavor  The writings reflect his deep concern for the moral decline of Rome  Sallust particularly shows off his rhetoric at the expensive of the old Roman aristocracy, whose degeneracy he speaks of in the darkest manner  Despite depicting Cataline as a villain for most of the story, Sallust praises some of the values that allowed Cataline to become a member of Senate  The work was likely written between 44 and 40 B.C.  Some believe that Sallust wrote it to clear Caesar’s name of any involvement with Cataline

10.  A brief account of the war against Jugurtha in Numidia (112 B.C. to 105 B.C.)  For much of the story, he dwells on the feebleness of Senate and the aristocracy  The work itself is unimpressive, mostly consisting of notes collected during his time as governor of Numidia  It is lacking in geographical and chronological details and is considered too full of Sallust’s own personal opinion  It is valued, however, in detailing the introduction of Marius and Sulla to the Roman political scene and the beginning of their rivalry

11.  Little remains of Sallust’s third work  Fragments show that Sallust used much of it to harshly criticize Sulla’s policies and describe the destruction of his ideals following his death  It takes place between 78-67 B.C.: The death of Sulla to the praetorship of Cicero  It is thought to specifically chronicle the war against Sertorius, the campaigns of Lucullus against Mithridates VI of Pontus, and Pompey’s victories in the East (that war gained Pompey the agnomen “Magnus”)

12.  According to many historians, Sallust married Cicero’s ex-wife Terentia  He died in 35 B.C., leaving his house and gardens to his nephew  The Gardens of Sallust would eventually come into ownership of the Emperors

13.  The historians that followed Sallust spoke very highly of him  Tacitus speaks very highly of him in Annals and Quintilian declares that he is a greater historian than Livy and on the same level as Thucydides, someone Sallust greatly admired  Friedrich Nietzsche greatly admired him, praising his writing style as “compact, severe, with as much substance as possible, a cold sarcasm against 'beautiful words' and 'beautiful sentiments.’”

14.  “Do as much as possible, and talk of yourself as little as possible.”  “Harmony makes small things grow, lack of it makes great things decay.”  “By union the smallest states thrive. By discord the greatest are destroyed.”  “Ambition breaks the ties of blood, and forgets the obligations of gratitude.”  “Think like a man of action, and act like a man of thought.”

15.  Biography Base. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2012..  “Sallust.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Web. 20 Oct. 2012..  Scudder, Jared W. “Gaius Sallustius Crispus.” The Society for Ancient Languages. Society for Ancient Languages, n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2012..