Editing Cato the Elder (section)

===Youth===

====In the Punic Wars====
[[File:Heinrich Leutemann - Hannibals Übergang über die Alpen (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|[[Hannibal's crossing of the Alps|Hannibal and his men crossing the Alps]]]]
When Cato was very young, after his father's death, he inherited a small property in [[Sabine]] territory, at a distance from his native town. There, he spent most of his childhood overseeing the operations of the farm, learning business and the rural economy. Near this land was a small hut owned by [[Manius Curius Dentatus]], whose military feats and rigidly simple character were remembered and admired in the neighborhood. Cato was inspired to imitate that character, hoping to match the glory of Dentatus.

Soon an opportunity came for a military campaign. In 218 BC [[Hannibal|Hannibal Barca]] attacked one of Rome's allies, starting the [[Second Punic War]]. Experts express some disagreement about Cato's early military life. In 214, he served at [[Capua]], and the historian Wilhelm Drumann imagines that already, at the age of 20, he was a [[military tribune]].<ref>Wilhelm Drumann, ''Geschichte Roms'' (History of Rome), v. p. 99, 6 Bde. Königsberg 1834–1844.</ref> [[Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus]] had the command in this area, [[Campania]], during the year of his fourth consulship. 

At the siege of [[Taranto|Tarentum]], in 209, Cato was again at the side of Fabius. Two years later, Cato was one of the men who went with the consul Claudius Nero on his northern march from [[Lucania]] to check the progress of [[Hasdrubal Barca]]. It is recorded that the services of Cato contributed to the decisive and important victory of Sena at the [[Battle of Metaurus|Battle of the Metaurus]], where Hasdrubal was slain.

Cato later gave several vehement speeches, which he often ended by saying "''[[Carthago delenda est]]''", or "Carthage must be destroyed."<ref>[[Plutarch]], ''Life of Cato the Elder'', 27.</ref> He encouraged the Romans to attack [[Carthage]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

====Between the wars====
In the pauses between campaigns Cato returned to his Sabine farm, where he dressed simply, working and behaving like his laborers. Young as he was, the neighboring farmers liked his tough mode of living, enjoyed his old-fashioned and concise proverbs, and had a high regard for his abilities. His own active personality made him willing and eager to make himself available in the service of his neighbors. He was selected to act, sometimes as an arbitrator of disputes, and sometimes as a supporter in local causes, which were probably tried in front of ''recuperatores'', the judges for causes of great public interest. Consequently, he was enabled to strengthen by practice his oratorical abilities, to gain self-confidence, to observe the manners of men, to analyze the diversity of human nature, to apply the rules of law, and to practically investigate the principles of justice.

====Follower of the old Roman strictness====
In the area surrounding Cato's Sabine farm were the lands of [[Lucius Valerius Flaccus (consul 195 BC)|Lucius Valerius Flaccus]], a young nobleman of significant influence and high patrician family. Flaccus could not help remarking on Cato's energy, his military talent, his eloquence, his frugal and simple life, and his traditional principles. Flaccus himself was a member of that purist patrician faction which displayed its adherence to the stricter virtues of the Roman character. 

Within Roman society a transition was in progress—from [[Samnium|Samnite]] rusticity to Grecian civilization and oriental luxuriance. The chief [[Magistratus|magistracies]] of the state had become almost hereditary for a few wealthy and upper-class families. They were popular by acts of generosity and charming manners, and they collected material wealth from their clients and followers, as well as intellectual prowess provided by their education, taste in the fine arts, and knowledge of literature. 

Nonetheless, the less fortunate nobles, envious of this exclusive oligarchy and critical of the decadence and luxury, formed a party with a more conservative and ascetic ideology. In their eyes, rusticity and austerity were the marks of Sabine character, and of the old Roman inflexible integrity and love of order. [[Marcus Claudius Marcellus]], [[Scipio Africanus]] and his family, and [[Titus Quinctius Flamininus]] may be taken as representative of the new culture; Cato's friends, Fabius and Flaccus, were the leading men in the faction defending the old plainness.

====Path to magistracies====
[[File:roman.forum.&.arch.of.septimius.rome.arp.jpg|thumb|right|Part of the Roman Forum. The arch was erected by [[Arch of Septimius Severus|Septimius Severus]].]]

Flaccus was a perceptive politician, who looked for young and emergent men to support him. He had observed Cato's martial spirit and heard his eloquent tongue. He knew how much courage and persuasiveness were valued at Rome. He also knew that distinction achieved on the battlefield opened the way to achievements in the higher civil offices. Flaccus knew too that for a stranger like Cato, the only way to the magisterial honours was success in the [[Roman Forum]].{{refn|group=n|Compare that conception with the opinion stated by [[Montesquieu]] about the subsequent corruption of Rome during the [[Roman Republican civil wars|civil wars]] between [[Gaius Marius]] and [[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]]'s factions: "But, in general, the Romans knew only the art of war, which was the sole ''path to magistracies'' and honours. Thus, the martial virtues remained after all the others were lost."<ref>{{citation |last=Montesquieu |author-link=Montesquieu |title=Considerations on the Causes of the Greatness of the Romans and their Decline |at=Ch.&nbsp;X |date=1734 }}.</ref>}} 

For that reason, he suggested to Cato that he shift his ambition to the field of Roman politics. The advice was followed. Invited to the townhouse of Flaccus, and ratified by his support, Cato began to distinguish himself in the forum, and became a candidate for assuming a post in the magistracy.