Editing Sallust (section)

=== Caesar's civil war ===
{{see|Caesar's civil war}}

During the [[Caesar's Civil War|civil war]] from 49 to 45&nbsp;BC, Sallust was a Caesarian partisan, but his role was not significant; his name is not mentioned in the dictator's ''[[Commentarii de Bello Civili]]''.<ref name=syme.36>{{harvnb|Syme|1964|p=36}}.</ref> Plutarch reported that Sallust dined with Caesar, [[Aulus Hirtius|Hirtius]], [[Gaius Oppius|Oppius]], [[Lucius Cornelius Balbus (consul)|Balbus]] and [[Servius Sulpicius Rufus|Sulpicius Rufus]] on the night after Caesar's [[crossing the Rubicon]] into Italy in early January.<ref>{{cite book|last=Dando-Collins|first=Stephan|title=The Epic Saga of Julius Caesar's Tenth Legion and Rome|year=2002|isbn=0-471-09570-2|page=[https://archive.org/details/caesarslegionepi00dand/page/67 67]|publisher=Wiley |url=https://archive.org/details/caesarslegionepi00dand/page/67}}</ref> In 49 BC, Sallust was moved to [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]] and probably commanded at least one legion there after the failure of [[Publius Cornelius Dolabella (consul 44 BC)|Publius Cornelius Dolabella]] and [[Gaius Antonius (brother of Mark Antony)|Gaius Antonius]].<ref name=dkp /><ref name=syme.36 /> This campaign was unsuccessful.<ref name=syme.36 /> In 48&nbsp;BC, he was probably made quaestor by Caesar, automatically restoring his seat in the senate.<ref name=dkp /><ref>{{harvnb|Broughton|1952|p=274|ps=. Broughton notes disagreement about the dates. The pseudo-Cicero ''Invective'' dates his senatorial return to 50 via a quaestorship; Broughton places it in 48&nbsp;BC.}}</ref> In late summer 47&nbsp;BC, a group of soldiers rebelled near Rome, demanding their discharge and payment for service. Sallust, as ''praetor designatus'' and serving as one of Caesar's legates,{{sfn|Broughton|1952|p=291}} with several other senators, was sent to persuade the soldiers to abstain, but the rebels killed two senators, and Sallust narrowly escaped death.{{sfn|Mellor|2002|p=31}}

In 46&nbsp;BC, he served as a [[praetor]]{{sfn|Broughton|1952|p=613}} and accompanied Caesar in his African campaign, which ended in another defeat of the remaining Pompeians at [[Battle of Thapsus|Thapsus]]. Sallust did not participate in military operations directly, but he commanded several ships and organized supply through the [[Kerkennah Islands]]. As a reward for his services, Sallust was appointed proconsular governor of [[Numidia|Africa Nova]], either from 46–45 or for early 44&nbsp;BC.{{sfn|Broughton|1952|pp=298, 613}} It is not clear why: Sallust was not a skilled general; the province was militarily significant. Moreover, his successors as governor were experienced military men. However, Sallust successfully managed the organization of supply and transportation, and these qualities could have determined Caesar's choice.<ref name="syme.37">{{harvnb|Syme|1964|p=37}}.</ref> As governor he was so corrupt and avaricious that – on his return in late 45 or early 44&nbsp;BC{{sfn|Broughton|1952|p=329}} – only Caesar's dictatorial influence enabled him to escape conviction on charges of corruption and extortion.{{sfn|Mellor|2002|p=32}} On his return to Rome he purchased and began laying out in great splendour the famous gardens on the [[Quirinal Hill|Quirinal]] known as the [[Gardens of Sallust]] ({{langx|la|Horti Sallustiani}}), which were later inherited by the emperors.