Chapter 59: Boiling anger
Chapter 59: Boiling anger
“Debt cancellation? That’s nonsense!”
As soon as Catiline finished his proposal, the senators erupted in outrage.
Not all senators were aware of the secret agreement between Silanus and Catiline. The rationale was simple: if the information leaked, it would cause trouble. With 600 members in the Senate, there was no guarantee that everyone would keep the secret. Consequently, Silanus and Cicero had only informed a few trusted elders.
Those unaware of the planned nature of the proposal expected Silanus to immediately exercise his veto power. However, contrary to their expectations, Silanus rose from his seat and addressed Catiline.
“Catiline, why did you propose such a frivolous bill? Explain your reasoning.”
“Silanus! What are you talking about?”
“What reasoning? There’s no need to listen to such nonsense. Just exercise your veto power!”
“Consul, isn’t this the same as last year!”
As the situation unfolded differently than anticipated, the senators reacted desperately. If Silanus, whom they trusted implicitly, failed to exercise his veto, it could be disastrous. Particularly, senators with many debtors were ready to confront Silanus directly. If not for the lictors standing guard, a physical altercation might have occurred.
Cicero and Crassus stepped in to calm the agitated senators, urging them to listen to the rest of the discussion. It took some time for the commotion to settle.
When silence was restored, Silanus surveyed the angry senators and continued.
“Calm down, my dear fellow senators. I want to clarify that I have no intention of supporting this absurd bill.”
Some senators sighed in relief, and Cato stood to endorse Silanus’ position.
“That seems to be the best way to minimize the chaos. Of course, this is contingent on the other consul agreeing to the debate.”
All eyes turned to Catiline. He had remained silent since proposing the bill and, after clearing his throat, spoke slowly.
“Uh… of course, I agree. Rome is now in turmoil due to the countless debts burdening its citizens. I am committed to doing everything in my power to help them.”
“Does that include yourself among those suffering?”
“It seems obvious that you are trying to save yourself first.”
Catiline did not respond to the murmurs among the senators. Those familiar with his character found his behavior unusual. He was known for his pride and sensitivity to ridicule, yet he remained unusually reserved and spoke only when necessary. Some quick-thinking senators began to sense that something was amiss.
‘What a foolish man. I told him to act as usual.’
By drawing such attention to himself, Catiline was bound to arouse suspicion.
‘I need to inform Silanus to warn him again.’
Cicero’s disdain for Catiline grew with each passing moment. If Catiline wanted to look down on the commoners, he should at least have the competence to match his arrogance.
Cato, another noble, was a highly respected intellectual in the Senate. Although Catiline was not stupid or entirely incompetent—he would not have reached the position of praetor otherwise—his abilities did not match his lofty self-esteem.
‘If I had been consul when he pulled such nonsense, I would have completely dismantled him.’
Suppressing his frustration, Cicero publicly supported Silanus’ position. Soon after, Crassus and the other Optimates elders also agreed, and the rest of the senators followed the trend.
This was part of the plan. Despite Catiline’s poor performance, the situation remained manageable. The debate was scheduled to take place at the Forum Romanum after a period of adequate publicity, allowing citizens to watch.
Catiline agreed to this arrangement without objection. He remained silent throughout the meeting and left promptly when time was up, as if he had been waiting for the moment.
Young senators, unaware of Catiline’s secret deal with the elders, watched him with suspicion.
“Cicero, do you think Catiline has some other scheme?”
“Don’t worry too much. Catiline isn’t the sort to devise a cunning plan.”
“But wasn’t he unusually quiet?”
“He must be overwhelmed by the situation he has created.”
The new senators from plebeian backgrounds, including Cicero, observed Catiline’s apparent ineffectiveness with satisfaction.
In truth, this sentiment was shared even among the traditional noble families. Few of them sympathized with Catiline. Many wondered why he stirred up such trouble when he should have remained quiet. Some even openly displayed their irritation.
This was how the current privileged faction viewed Catiline.
And this was also the reason why Marcus had dismissed the option of aligning with Catiline from the start.
The news about the debate on the debt cancellation bill quickly spread throughout Rome. Although spectators were welcome, any form of violence was prohibited, and armed guards were stationed to enforce this.
On the day of the debate, the square was packed with debtors and creditors from across Rome. The assembly hall was already filled to capacity, with nearby temples and colonnades also crowded with spectators.
The atmosphere was tense and unfriendly, given the gathering of those who had borrowed large sums of money and those who had lent it.
Silanus, who was responsible for the keynote speech, took the podium first. He surveyed the crowd and noted that there were more people than anticipated.
“Dear citizens,” he began, “today’s debate aims to minimize the conflict surrounding Rome. It is not a venue for determining who is right or wrong. The outcome of this debate will not decide the fate of the bill. As this is a critical issue, the Senate will carefully consider your opinions. We ask for your trust and patience, and request that you maintain order. Any acts of violence will result in immediate arrest.”
The debtors who had hoped to criticize Silanus were taken aback by his unexpectedly moderate speech and missed their chance to express their discontent.
Catiline then took the podium to present his case for the bill. His speech, however, was weak and left creditors disappointed.
The debate proceeded in a lackluster manner, largely due to Catiline’s passivity. Meanwhile, the Senate’s side launched a one-sided offensive, employing numerous experts and scholars, making the event resemble more of a lecture than a debate.
“Consul Catiline, have you thoroughly considered the impact that debt cancellation will have on Rome’s economy?”
“There are many people in Rome struggling with debt. They need help.”
“And what is your justification for proposing such an extreme measure as debt cancellation?”
“I believed that taking this drastic step would make everyone realize the seriousness of the situation.”
“But if all debts are canceled, Rome’s economy will collapse completely. Denarii and sesterces will become worthless, and we’ll be forced to return to primitive bartering instead of using money. Do you really want such a future?”
Catiline’s side had no rebuttal. They had never intended to engage actively in the debate and had no strong arguments to counter the Senate’s points.
Catiline’s supporters sighed at their consul’s ineffective performance. They couldn’t openly criticize those opposing the bill or confront the Senate directly.
Ultimately, the first debate ended with a decisive victory for the Senate. The citizens who were not directly involved in the matter mocked the debtors’ weak arguments and left.
It was clear that the more reasonable logic lay with those opposing debt cancellation. Even after the debate, Catiline only gave the appearance of supporting the bill without making any serious efforts to advance it.
The debtors, frustrated but hopeful, cheered Catiline on. Catiline looked disheartened, but his supporters continued to trust him. Though there were 600 senators, Catiline was isolated, and despite being consul, he faced opposition from every direction.
Those sympathetic to Catiline argued that it was unfair to expect him to battle against the entire Senate single-handedly.
Though the immediate chaos seemed to subside, Cicero remained concerned. Cato, despite his usual disagreements with Cicero, shared the same concern.
Stopping the debt cancellation bill was only a temporary fix. To truly resolve the conflict, they needed to address the underlying issue of debt. The problem was far from resolved, and discontent could easily flare up again.
“We need to draft a bill to support the ruined farmers while we still have time. If we don’t, the citizens’ anger might erupt again at any moment,” Cicero urged.
Despite his efforts, his pleas fell on deaf ears. Most senators had already realized that Catiline had no real intention of pushing through the debt cancellation bill.
The Senate, having already secured a victory, felt no urgency to address the debt problem.
“It’s dangerous, it’s dangerous. We’ve heard that so many times, but nothing has ever happened, right?”
“There was similar talk during the Gracchi brothers’ time, but we ended up fine. We’ve been holding on for over 70 years, so there’s no need to rush now.”
Even Silanus, whom Cicero trusted, suggested they should wait and see.
One third of the senators did not grasp the seriousness of the situation, another third understood it but felt no need to act, and the final third were unwilling to give up their privileges.
With no clear solution, Cicero could only hope that the situation would not worsen.
However, Marcus had no intention of letting the issue slide.
If the situation remained unresolved, it would harm both himself and Rome. If he did not act decisively, the problem would only worsen.
Marcus quickly set about spreading a convincing and provocative rumor.
The rumor spread rapidly through Rome, its content both credible and inflammatory:
‘The citizens are being deceived. Catiline has no intention of passing the debt cancellation bill; he only used it as a false promise to become consul. The Senate is complicit, showing no real interest in the citizens’ concerns. Catiline and the Senate are merely staging a scripted act.’
The rumor seemed plausible to the citizens, explaining Catiline’s passivity and the Senate’s unusually accommodating behavior.
To make matters worse, an additional and damaging fact emerged:
‘The Senate has appointed Catiline as governor of the most prosperous eastern province.’
This news incited outrage among Catiline’s supporters. It was clear evidence of collusion. Everyone in Rome knew that the eastern province was the most coveted assignment for consuls and praetors—a dream position usually reserved for those with high reputation and good relations with the Senate.
Catiline’s appointment to this desirable position, despite his confrontation with the Senate, suggested some form of deal.
Everywhere, there were cries denouncing both Catiline and the Senate.
Violent incidents erupted across Rome.
Catiline’s house was surrounded by enraged supporters, making it impossible for him to enter or leave. His guards were overwhelmed by the crowd's sheer force and could not disperse them. It was nearly a riot, and no one could stop it.
“Catiline! Did you really deceive your supporters?”
“Did you use us to further your own ambitions?”
“Explain yourself!”
“Explain yourself, Catiline!”
Terrified, Catiline remained locked in his house, unable to move or communicate with anyone outside. The Senate, faced with this unexpected crisis, hesitated to act.
Some senators even thought Catiline deserved this fate for his mistakes. If he had any real capability to handle the situation, he should have presented a clear vision by now. He had ample time to formulate a plan and could have leveraged his consulship to pressure the Senate. But he failed to demonstrate his competence.
Now, Catiline had to focus solely on his survival. Whether or not his agreement with Silanus held any weight was irrelevant if he was about to be killed by the angry mob.
He rationalized his situation to himself, convincing himself he had done his best. The Senate had failed to provide a proper solution, so the responsibility for resolving the crisis also fell on them.
Having justified his actions, Catiline felt he had nothing left to lose. The absurdity of a consul inciting citizens against the Senate was unfolding before Rome’s eyes—a situation they had feared when Catiline was elected. It was even worse than anticipated.
The conflict was no longer just between debtors and creditors. Through debates and public discussions, citizens had come to recognize debt as a critical social issue. While they saw debt cancellation as an extreme measure, they understood the need for reform.
The anger of Catiline’s supporters had intensified, setting the stage for an explosion of resentment and frustration accumulated over decades of economic injustice.
The Senate, having ignored the problem for too long, would soon face the urgent need for reform.