Editing Catiline (section)

=== Death ===
{{see|Battle of Pistoria}}
[[File:The discovery of the body of Catiline after the Battle of Pistoia (1871), by Alcide Segoni.jpg|thumb|right|[[Alcide Segoni]]'s ''Discovery of the Body of Catiline'' (1871). In the [[Palazzo Pitti#Gallery of Modern Art|Gallery of Modern Art]], [[Florence]].]]
[[File:Lucius Scribonius Libo, denarius, 62 BC, RRC 416-1a.jpg|thumb|right|Denarius minted by [[Lucius Scribonius Libo]] in 62&nbsp;BC. The portrayal of [[Bonus Eventus]] on the obverse likely commemorates the destruction of the Catilinarian rebels.{{sfnm|Crawford|1974|1pp=441–42|Berry|2020|2pp=52–53}}]]
[[File:Denarius of L. Aemilius Lepidus Paullus.jpg|thumb|right|Denarius minted by [[Lucius Aemilius Paullus (consul 50 BC)|Lucius Aemilius Paullus]] in 62&nbsp;BC depicting the goddess [[Concordia (goddess)|Concordia]]; {{harvnb|Berry|2020|p=54}} argues that Paullus viewed Catiline's defeat as "a restoration of national harmony". ]]
In late November, Antonius' forces approached from the south. He decamped from [[Faesulae]] and moved near the mountains but remained close enough to the town to be in striking distance. When Antonius' forces arrived in the vicinity of the town, he avoided battle.{{sfn|Sumner|1963|p=215}}

Catiline's coconspirators in Rome had been caught out by Cicero with the aid of some Gallic envoys.{{sfn|Berry|2020|pp=42–46}} After a fierce senate debate, they were executed without trial on 5 December.{{sfn|Berry|2020|p=50}} When news of their death arrived to Catiline's camp, much of his army melted away, leaving him with perhaps a bit more than three thousand men. Hoping to escape into Gaul, his escape from Italy was blocked when [[Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer]] – proconsul in [[Cisalpine Gaul]]{{sfn|Broughton|1952|p=176}} – garrisoned the Apennine passes near [[Bologna|Bononia]].{{sfn|Sumner|1963|pp=215–16}}

Antonius kept his men relatively docile near Faesulae, but after he received reinforcements from then-quaestor [[Publius Sestius]] in the last days of December, he moved out. Catiline, for his part, seeing his escape blocked, turned south to face Antonius, perhaps believing that Antonius would not fight as hard. They met at Pistoria, modern day [[Pistoia]]. Descending from the heights, he offered battle to Antonius' army, possibly on 3 January 62&nbsp;BC.{{sfn|Sumner|1963|p=217}}

On the day of the battle, Antonius gave operational command to Marcus Petreius (Sallust claims he was stricken with gout{{sfn|Sall. ''Cat.''|loc=59.4}}), an experienced lieutenant,{{sfn|Wiseman|1992|p=360}} who broke through the Catilinarian centre with the praetorian cohort, forcing Catiline's men to flight.{{sfn|Sall. ''Cat.''|loc=60}} Catiline and his diehard supporters fought bravely and were annihilated:{{sfn|Berry|2020|p=52}} "they were desperate men who did not wish to survive their defeat".{{sfn|Wiseman|1992|p=360}}

Sallust's account reads:
{{quote|
When the battle was ended it became evident what boldness and resolution had pervaded Catiline's army. For almost every man covered with his body, when life was gone, the position which he had taken when alive at the beginning of the conflict. A few, indeed, in the centre, whom the praetorian cohort had scattered, lay a little apart from the rest, but the wounds even of these were in front. But Catiline was found far in advance of his men amid a heap of slain foemen, still breathing slightly, and showing in his face the indomitable spirit which had animated him when alive.{{sfn|Sall. ''Cat.''|loc=61}}
}}