1.1 to 1.5

Gaius Sallustius Crispus (c. 86 -35/4 B. C.) Roman historian and one of the great Latin literary stylists, noted for his narrative writings dealing with political personalities, corruption, and party rivalry. Sallust's family probably belonged to the local aristocracy, but he was the only member known to have served in the Roman Senate. Thus he embarked on a political career as a novus homo ("new man"); that is, he was not born into the ruling class, which was an accident that influenced both the content and tone of his historical judgments. Nothing is known of his early career, but he probably gained some military experience, perhaps in the east in the years from 70 to 60 BC. His first political office, which he held in 52, was that of a tribune of the plebs. The office, designed originally to represent the lower classes, by Sallust's time had developed into one of the most powerful magistracies. The evidence that Sallust held a quaestorship, an administrative office in finance, sometimes dated about 55, is unreliable. Because of electoral disturbances in 53, there were no regular government officials other than the tribunes, and the next year opened in violence that led to the murder of Clodius, a notorious demagogue and candidate for the praetorship (a magistracy ranking below that of consul), by a gang led by Milo. The latter was a candidate for consul. In the trial that followed, Cicero defended Milo, while Sallust and his fellow tribunes harangued the people in speeches attacking Cicero. While these events were not of lasting significance, Sallust's experience of the political strife of that year provided a major theme for his writings. In 50 Sallust was expelled from the Senate for alleged immorality. The following year Sallust sought refuge with Julius Caesar, and, when the civil war between Caesar and Pompey broke out in that year, he was placed in command of one of Caesar's legions. His only recorded action was unsuccessful. Two years later, designated praetor, he was sent to quell a mutiny among Caesar's troops, again without success. In 46 he took part in Caesar's African campaign (with modest success), and when Africa Nova was formed from Numidian territory (modern Algeria), Sallust became its first governor. He remained in office until 45 or early 44.