Cicero amidst the clamour of political struggle: the consulate of 63 bc and the debate surrounding the legality of the senatus consultum ultimum

Abstract

In his consular year, Cicero had to deal with an attempted coup by Catiline, against whom the “senatus consultum ultimum” was decreed. The paper focuses on the debate between optimates and populares as to the legality of this measure, and the role played by Cicero throughout that crisis..