Publius Autronius Paetus was a politician of the late Roman Republic who was involved in the conspiracy of Catiline.
He was elected consul in 66 BC (to serve in 65 BC), alongside Publius Cornelius Sulla, but before they could take office both were accused of electoral corruption by Lucius Aurelius Cotta and Lucius Manlius Torquatus. They were found guilty, their election was declared void and their accusers were elected consuls in their place.[1]
Some sources claim that Autronius conspired with Catiline to murder Cotta and Torquatus on the day of their installation, January 1, 65 BC, but the plot collapsed when Catiline gave the signal before all the conspirators were assembled.[1] Autronius was implicated in the failed conspiracy, and, after his old friend Cicero refused to defend him, he was convicted and sent into exile in Epeirus. When Cicero himself was exiled in 58 BC, he was concerned that Autronius might attempt to kill him. However, this conspiracy is not described consistently in contemporary sources. Modern historians doubt this account, and question whether this conspiracy actually existed.[2]
See also
- Autronia (gens)
References
- ^ a b Marcus Tullius Cicero (1891). Selected Orations and Letters: With Historical Introduction, an Outline of the Roman Constitution, Notes, Excursuses, Vocabulary, and Index by Harold W. Johnston. Albert, Scott. pp. 23–.
- ^ Holmes, P. A. (2011). "The 'First' Catilinarian Conspiracy: A Further Re-examination of the Evidence". Reinvention: a Journal of Undergraduate Research. British Conference of Undergraduate Research. 2011 Special Issue.
- William Smith (ed) (1870), Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, Vol 3 p. 84