Gaius Cornelius Cethegus (conspirator)

Despite coming from the illustrious Cornelia gens, he had a mediocre political career. He sided with Gaius Marius, then with Marius' enemy Sulla and finally with Catiline in his conspiracy of June 64 BC.[1]

On 3 December 63 BC, the consul Cicero made public a note from the conspirators inciting the Gallic tribe of the Allobroges to revolt. The note incriminated Cethegus and the other conspirators - he had been unwise enough to sign it in his own hand. He was arrested and moved to the Temple of Concord then put under house arrest in the home of a trusted senator, Q. Cornificius.[2] Cicero's allies discovered a cache of swords and daggers in Cethegus' house meant for the conspirators' use.[3] A debate in the Senate on the topic of whether or not to execute the conspirators ended in the decision to do so and Cethegus and the others were strangled in the Tullianum prison on 4 December.[4]