Extract

Marcus Porcius Cato (2) ‘of Utica' (‘Uticensis’ (95–46 bce), great-grandson of Cato (Censorius), nephew of M. *Livius Drusus (2), and brought up in the Livian household with the children of his mother's marriage to Cn. Servilius Caepio. Quaestor probably in 64, in 63 he became tribune-designate in order to check Q. *Caecilius Metellus Nepos, supported L. *Licinius Murena's prosecution, and intervened powerfully in the senate to secure the execution of the Catilinarians (see sergius catilina, l.). As tribune he conciliated the mob by increasing the numbers eligible to receive cheap corn, but in all else remained uncompromising; *Cicero (Att. 1. 18. 7; 2. 1. 8) deplores his lack of realism which prevented revision of the Asian tax-contracts (61)—thus alienating the *equites—and which frustrated every overture of *Pompey until the coalition between Pompey, *Caesar, and *Crassus was formed.