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Public security notice · Catilinarian emergencyCatiline has departed Rome for Manlius’ camp. Roads and strategic towns are under guard.
PUBLIC RECORD · LATE REPUBLIC

The Republic,
as it stood.

Government, law, elections and war in the consulship of Marcus Tullius Cicero and Gaius Antonius Hybrida.

Historian’s note Dates are approximate where the pre-Julian civic calendar or surviving narratives are uncertain.

TEMPORAL ARCHIVE

View the Republic at a point in time

DISPLAYINGNovember · 63 BCEafter the Nones of November
11NOVEMBER
63 BCE
Public security

Catiline leaves Rome

Cicero denounces Catiline in the Senate on 8 November. Catiline departs to join Manlius; the government identifies the movement as an armed rebellion.

AGENDA
  1. Senate at Jupiter Stator
  2. Publish consular address
  3. Coordinate Etrurian command
i

Calendar model: This control uses modern month names as a finding aid. Roman dates in 63 BCE predate Caesar’s calendar reform, and several events can be placed only approximately.

SACRA · LVDI · FERIAE

Religious rites & public games

A calendar entry records an expected Republican observance; it does not prove that every ceremony was staged without interruption.

GAMES · 4–17 November

Ludi Plebeii

The Plebeian Games, administered by the plebeian aediles, filled the Circus and theatres. Their programme culminated around the Ides and ranked second only to the Roman Games in the late-Republican calendar.

GOVERNMENT SERVICES

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Browse the public business of Rome through the institutions that conducted it.

ACTA DIURNA

Latest public notices

AS OF NOVEMBER
Night8/9 Nov
SECURITY

Catiline departs the city

He joins the armed camp of Manlius near Faesulae.

→
8Nov
SENATE

First Catilinarian delivered

Cicero addresses Catiline in the Temple of Jupiter Stator.

→
LateOct
WAR

Manlius’ rising in Etruria

Metellus Celer and other commanders raise forces across Italy.

→
21Oct
EMERGENCY

Senatus consultum ultimum

The consuls are charged to see that the Republic suffer no harm.

→
FASTI MAGISTRATVVM

Magistrate directory

Officeholders attested in the surviving record, filtered to the selected month.

MAGISTRATEOFFICEELECTING BODYENTERED OFFICE
MTMarcus Tullius CiceroM. Tullius M. f. M. n. CiceroConsulComitia Centuriata1 January
GAGaius Antonius HybridaC. Antonius M. f. M. n. HibridaConsulComitia Centuriata1 January
QCQuintus Caecilius Metellus CelerQ. Caecilius Metellus CelerPraetorComitia Centuriata1 January
PCPublius Cornelius Lentulus SuraP. Cornelius Lentulus SuraPraetorComitia Centuriata1 January
GPGaius PomptinusC. PomptinusPraetorComitia Centuriata1 January
LVLucius Valerius FlaccusL. Valerius FlaccusPraetorComitia Centuriata1 January
PCPublius Cornelius Lentulus SpintherP. Cornelius Lentulus SpintherCurule AedileComitia Tributa1 January
TATitus Ampius BalbusT. Ampius BalbusTribune of the PlebsConcilium Plebis10 December 64
LCLucius Caecilius RufusL. Caecilius RufusTribune of the PlebsConcilium Plebis10 December 64
TLTitus LabienusT. LabienusTribune of the PlebsConcilium Plebis10 December 64
PSPublius Servilius RullusP. Servilius M. f. RullusTribune of the PlebsConcilium Plebis10 December 64
PSPublius SestiusP. SestiusQuaestorComitia Tributa1 January
PVPublius VatiniusP. VatiniusQuaestorComitia Tributa1 January
GJGaius Julius CaesarC. Iulius C. f. C. n. CaesarPontifex Maximus17 tribes chosen by lotSpring 63
DJDecimus Junius SilanusD. Iunius M. f. SilanusConsul-designateComitia CenturiataSummer election
LLLucius Licinius MurenaL. Licinius L. f. L. n. MurenaConsul-designateComitia CenturiataSummer election
Showing 16 attested entries for November 63 BCE

Absence from this directory does not imply that an office was vacant; many lower-office names are not preserved.

PROVINCIAE · IMPERIA · LEGATIONES

Provincial administration

Governors, extraordinary commanders and delegated deputies securely or probably placed in 63 BCE.

5OFFICIALS SHOWN
IN NOVEMBER
5ATTESTED
COMMANDS

Coverage notice: A complete annual provincial return is not extant. Africa, Sicily, Sardinia-Corsica and the Spanish provinces are not assigned named governors here unless the evidence securely places an official in 63.

Eastern commandAttested

Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus

Cn. Pompeius Cn. f. Sex. n. Magnus

OFFICE
Proconsul
AUTHORITY
Lex Manilia command, prorogued
TERM IN FILE
All year

Conducted the Syrian and Judaean campaigns, captured Jerusalem and returned to Pontus after leaving Scaurus with two legions.

Syria & PalestineAttested

Marcus Aemilius Scaurus

M. Aemilius M. f. Scaurus

OFFICE
Proquaestor propraetore
AUTHORITY
Deputy of Pompey · two legions
TERM IN FILE
Late 63 BCE

Pompey left Scaurus in command in Syria and Palestine when he returned north after the Jerusalem settlement.

AsiaAttested

Publius Servilius Globulus

P. Servilius Globulus

OFFICE
Propraetor
AUTHORITY
Promagisterial provincial command
TERM IN FILE
63 BCE

Governor of Asia, attested repeatedly in Cicero’s later defence of L. Valerius Flaccus.

Gallia TransalpinaDelegated

Gaius Licinius Murena

C. Licinius Murena

OFFICE
Legate in command
AUTHORITY
Delegated by L. Licinius Murena
TERM IN FILE
Later 63 BCE

Held the provincial command after his brother returned to Rome and arrested messengers connected with the Catilinarian movement.

MacedoniaProbable

Lucius Plaetorius Cestianus

L. Plaetorius Cestianus

OFFICE
Governor · title uncertain
AUTHORITY
Probable successor to Torquatus
TERM IN FILE
Probably later 63 BCE

Epigraphic evidence probably places him between Torquatus and Antonius, but his exact title and dates cannot be fixed.

ALBVM SENATORIVM · ATTESTED INDEX

Senate roll for 63 BCE

A searchable index of senators and men of senatorial rank individually visible in the surviving business of the year.

ARCHIVAL STATUSPARTIAL ROLL · 19 PEOPLE INDEXED

No complete membership list or roll-call vote survives. The Sullan Senate was far larger than the names shown here; this register publishes only identifiable individuals.

SENATORRANKSTANDING IN 63DECEMBER RECORD
MTMarcus Tullius CiceroTullii of Arpinum · novus homoConsulPresiding magistratePresided over the debate and carried out the Senate’s recommendation.
GAGaius Antonius HybridaGens AntoniaConsulField command late in yearAway with the consular army; no individual Senate opinion preserved.
PCPublius Cornelius Lentulus SuraPatrician Cornelii LentuliPraetor · ex-consulResigned 3 DecemberCompelled to resign; executed on 5 December.
DJDecimus Junius SilanusGens JuniaConsul-designateFirst opinion in December debateInitially proposed the ultimate penalty; later qualifications differ among accounts.
LLLucius Licinius MurenaGens LiciniaConsul-designateFormer praetor and proconsulVoted for condemnation; the exact wording of his opinion is not preserved.
GJGaius Julius CaesarPatrician gens JuliaPraetor-designatePontifex maximusOpposed immediate execution; proposed confiscation and permanent detention.
MPMarcus Porcius CatoPorcii CatonesTribune-designateQuaestorian senatorArgued for execution; his position prevailed in Sallust’s narrative.
QLQuintus Lutatius CatulusGens LutatiaConsularFormer consul and censorPresent among the leading consulars; individual wording is not extant.
MLMarcus Licinius CrassusLicinii CrassiConsularFormer consul and censorNo secure individual opinion in the prisoners’ debate survives.
LJLucius Julius CaesarPatrician gens JuliaConsularConsul of 64 BCESupported death despite family ties to Lentulus Sura.
QHQuintus Hortensius HortalusGens HortensiaConsularConsul of 69 BCENo individual opinion securely preserved.
LLLucius Licinius LucullusLicinii LuculliConsularReturned commanderEligible to attend after the triumph; individual opinion not preserved.
QCQuintus Caecilius Metellus CreticusCaecilii MetelliConsularProconsul awaiting triumphImperium kept him outside the city; no sitting opinion recorded.
QMQuintus Marcius RexGens MarciaConsularProconsul awaiting triumphNot available for ordinary Senate attendance inside the pomerium.
SSServius Sulpicius RufusGens SulpiciaPraetorianJurist · defeated consular candidateNo individual opinion in the prisoners’ debate preserved.
LSLucius Sergius CatilinaPatrician gens SergiaPraetorianAbsent after 8 NovemberDeclared an enemy with the armed movement; no longer attending.
GCGaius Cornelius CethegusGens CorneliaSenatorDetained 3 DecemberExecuted on 5 December.
MPMarcus Porcius LaecaGens PorciaSenatorConspiratorial associateNo later attendance or individual Senate opinion is preserved.
LVLucius VargunteiusFamily record sparseSenatorConspiratorial associateLater status is not securely preserved.
Showing 19 of 19 indexed people

“Not preserved” is not a recorded abstention. It means no individual opinion survives in the sources used here.

COMITIA · OFFICIAL RETURNS

Election centre

Romans voted as groups. A century or tribe cast one collective vote; raw citizen totals were not the constitutional result.

ELECTION

Consuls for 62 BCE

Summer 63 BCE

ASSEMBLYComitia Centuriata
ARCHIVAL STATUSPARTIAL RETURN
CANDIDATERETURNVOTING-UNIT RECORD
01Decimus Junius SilanusElectedExact century count not extantELECTED
02Lucius Licinius MurenaElectedExact century count not extantELECTED
03Servius Sulpicius RufusNot electedExact century count not extantNOT RETURNED
04Lucius Sergius CatilinaNot electedExact century count not extantNOT RETURNED
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No modern popular-vote percentage is shown. Where sources say “all the centuries,” “first,” “last,” or “a few centuries,” this portal preserves that language. Missing counts are labelled—not estimated.

LEGES · ROGATIONES · SENATVS CONSVLTA

Legislation register

0163 BCE
DefeatedConcilium Plebis

Rogatio Servilia Agraria

A five-year commission of ten with imperium would found colonies, assign public land and purchase Italian land.

SPONSOR / AUTHORITYP. Servilius Rullus, tr. pl.January 63 BCE
0263 BCE
PassedConcilium Plebis / 17 tribes

Lex Labiena de sacerdotiis

Restores the modified popular election of high priests associated with the Lex Domitia.

SPONSOR / AUTHORITYT. Labienus, tr. pl.March 63 BCE
0363 BCE
ProposedComitia Centuriata

Lex Labiena de perduellione

Revives an archaic treason procedure against Gaius Rabirius; the proceeding is not completed.

SPONSOR / AUTHORITYT. Labienus, tr. pl.April 63 BCE
0463 BCE
PassedPeople

Lex Ampia Labiena

Grants Pompey special triumphal dress at public games in recognition of eastern victories.

SPONSOR / AUTHORITYT. Ampius & T. Labienus, tr. pl.May 63 BCE
0563 BCE
PassedComitia

Lex Tullia Antonia de ambitu

Strengthens penalties against electoral corruption and restricts certain spectacles before candidature.

SPONSOR / AUTHORITYCicero & Antonius, cos.July 63 BCE
0663 BCE
EmergencySenate

Senatus consultum ultimum

Charges the consuls to ensure that the Republic takes no harm amid the Catilinarian rising.

SPONSOR / AUTHORITYSenate; executed by the consulsOctober 63 BCE
IMPERIA · PROVINCIAE · BELLVM

Wars & provincial commands

Military and diplomatic notices as they stood in November 63 BCE.

ROMAETRURIASYRIAPONTVS
SCHEMATIC THEATRE VIEWNot to geographic scale
Jerusalem taken
EASTERN SETTLEMENT

Pompey in Syria & Judaea

Pompey ends Seleucid rule, organises Syria, intervenes in Judaean succession and captures Jerusalem. Ratification of the settlement remains for the Senate.

COMMANDCn. Pompeius Magnus, proconsul
Mithridates dead
PONTUS

Third Mithridatic War

Mithridates VI dies in 63 BCE. News reaches Pompey as he completes operations in the East; the long war is effectively concluded.

COMMANDPompey · eastern command
Armed rebellion
ETRURIA · ITALIA

Catilinarian rising

Manlius gathers armed followers near Faesulae. The government raises troops, secures Capua and blocks routes across northern and central Italy.

COMMANDC. Antonius; Metellus Celer; Marcius Rex
PERSONNEL & SENATE RECORD

Changes in office,
tracked over time.

Move the year control to see election, succession, resignation and designation take effect.

1 JAN
ENTRY

Cicero & Antonius

enter the consulship

RECORDED
SPRING
SUCCESSION

C. Julius Caesar

elected pontifex maximus

RECORDED
SUMMER
DESIGNATION

Silanus & Murena

returned for 62 BCE

RECORDED
3 DEC
RESIGNATION

Lentulus Sura

compelled to lay down the praetorship

LATER IN YEAR
TABVLARIVM · SOURCES & METHOD

Built from surviving evidence

This is a historical reconstruction of what a government information service might have published—not a claim that Rome maintained a modern public website.

EDITORIAL PRINCIPLE 01

Attested, inferred, unknown.

Records distinguish explicit ancient testimony from modern reconstruction. Unknown vote totals, incomplete office lists and disputed dates remain visibly unknown.

EDITORIAL PRINCIPLE 02

No modern parties.

The portal avoids treating optimates and populares as disciplined political parties. Roman alliances were personal, fluid and issue-specific.

EDITORIAL PRINCIPLE 03

Roman institutions first.

Consuls, praetors, tribunes and assemblies are described by their attested powers and electoral bodies, not by loose modern equivalents.

01
MODERN REFERENCET. R. S. Broughton, The Magistrates of the Roman Republic, vol. II

Principal prosopographical basis for the 63 BCE office list and commands.

↗02
SCHOLARLY EDITIONAndrew R. Dyck, Cicero: Catilinarians, introduction

Election, economic context and the consular crisis.

↗03
ANCIENT COMMENTARY / TRANSLATIONAsconius on Cicero’s In Toga Candida

Candidates and the relative result of the 64 BCE consular election.

↗04
PRIMARY SOURCESallust, Bellum Catilinae

Principal narrative for the conspiracy, mobilisation and Senate debate.

↗05
REFERENCE INDEXLate Republican magistrates by year

Quick concordance for attested consuls, praetors, aediles, tribunes and quaestors.

↗
Cicero portrait: “Cicero – Musei Capitolini,” photograph by Glauco92, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. Cropped and presented in monochrome.