By: Ine Suh

 The Cato family was famous for its conservative roots in Roman politics  Cato the Elder and Cato the Younger are the most significant members of the family  They struggled to maintain order in Rome during various periods of the Roman Republic: rise, prosperity, and fall

 Marcus Porcius Cato ( BC)  Soldier, senator, statesman, and leader of Roman Conservatives  Elected consul and censor  Rival of Scipio Africanus  Opposed foreign Greek influence; defended traditional Roman morals Cato the Elder

 Wrote the first history of Rome Origines in Latin  Believed Rome had been too lenient on the Carthaginians at the end of the Second Punic War  His embassy to Carthage in 153 BC confirmed this rival country’s prosperity as a threat to Rome

Cato shows his fellow senators some plump Carthaginian figs to remind them that Carthage had become too prosperous and must be destroyed (Nardo 56).

Ended all speeches in the Senate with “Delenda est Carthago” (Carthage must be destroyed) Cato the Elder

 His warnings encouraged Rome to fight again 149 BC: Outbreak of the Third Punic War 146 BC: Romans killed Carthaginians and burned the city  Ruin of Carthage gave Rome full access over the Mediterranean Sea – became mare nostrum  Cato’s stance toward Carthage turned Rome into a mighty military power that dominated Europe and North Africa for five centuries

 Marcus Porcius Cato or Cato Uticensis (95-46 BC)  Great-grandson of Cato the Elder  Leader of optimates – Roman conservative party  Treasurer, tribune, and magistrate  Julius Caesar’s foe Cato the Younger

 Fought against Caesar’s power and ruthless ambition  55 BC in Gaul Cato accused Caesar of war crimes  Attempted to destroy the triumvirate by making Pompey fight against Julius Caesar Fled to North Africa when Caesar defeated Pompey’s forces

 Chose to die for his own principles rather than to live under Caesar’s rule  46 BC: Stabbed himself and died in the presence of his family in Utica  Cicero’s eulogy Cato – Cato the Younger considered a martyr to the ancient Republic Death of Cato of Utica by Charles Brun

Rome’s Last Citizen

 Cato’s stance against tyranny and his famous suicide made him the icon of civic duty and sacrifice  Became a hero to those who idealized the dying Roman Republic: Romans were inspired by Cato the Younger and continued to oppose Caesar’s dictatorship  44 BC: Julius Caesar was assassinated in a conspiracy led by the hands of Brutus, Cato the Younger’s son-in-law

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