Quintus Lutatius Catulus Capitolinus

Quintus Lutatius Catulus Capitolinus (c. 121 – 61 BC) was a politician in the late

Catulus inherited his father's hatred of the leading statesman and general Marius, and was a consistent though moderate supporter of the aristocracy. During Sulla's proscription, Catulus avenged the death of his father with the assistance of Catiline, who tortured and killed Marcus Marius Gratidianus at the tomb of the senior Catulus.^[1]

During Sulla's dictatorship, he was involved in the reconstruction of the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus which had been destroyed by fire in 83, also giving his name to the new temple.^[2]

In 78 BC, he was consul with

But Lepidus, having levied troops in his province of

Catulus held the office of censor, but soon resigned, being unable to agree with his colleague Crassus. Although not a man of great abilities, Catulus exercised considerable influence through his political consistency and his undoubted solicitude for the welfare of the state.

Catulus's great-grandson was the emperor Galba, whom Suetonius claims was extremely proud of his ancestry: "Nero was succeeded by Galba, who was related in no degree to the house of the Caesars, although unquestionably of noble origin and of an old and powerful family; for he always added to the inscriptions on his statues that he was the great-grandson of Quintus Lutatius Catulus Capitolinus."^[3]

See also

• Tabularium, built by Catulus and Lepidus in 78 BC.

References

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Catulus". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 545.

Citations