Genealogies of Roman Clans and Families

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SERGIA GENS The Sergian Clan.

The Sergian clan is descended from Sergestus, a companion of Aeneas. Virgil [writes] in the fifth [book]: "And Sergestus, from whom the Sergian house takes its name." It flourished for more or less LXXI 71 years.

A genealogical chart follows, using brackets and spatial positioning to show descent and relationships among members of the Sergia family. The text is arranged in clusters connected by printed curly brackets.

From this clan came L. Sergius Catilina, according to Sallust and Asconius. He was a man, as Cicero writes in Pro Caelio, "composed of contrary and conflicting natural desires and impulses, in whom there were many signs, not expressed but shadowed, of the greatest virtues, which, obscured and deformed by many and great vices, could in no way shine forth." He was accused twice and acquitted. He sought the Consulship three times, and was repulsed twice. He conspired in the Senate once and again. I would not have spoken of this matter, had I not observed that this is so perturbed and confused by many that it is very difficult to judge. Cicero shows in In Pisonem that he was accused twice. Once for extortion by P. Clodius, when he had administered the province of Africa as Pro-praetor haughtily, greedily, and cruelly, and had despoiled and plundered the allies. He was acquitted through the collusion of Clodius; witness Asconius, which Sallust also reports in Catiline. The second time, he was accused among the assassins by L. Lucullus, when Caesar and Figulus were Consuls, because during Sulla's dominance he had killed many. Asconius names Q. Caecilius, M. Volumnius, L. Tantafius, and M. Marius Gratianus, whose severed head he had carried through the city with his own hand. The same is written by Q. Cicero On Running for the Consulship, and Dio in book XXXVII. Yet Orosius in the third chapter of the sixth book, whom that most excellent man Sebastian Corradus follows, offers a third accusation of Catiline regarding incest, arguing that he had committed it with the Vestal virgin Fabia. Plutarch and Asconius clearly indicate that this is false. For Catiline was not accused of that crime, but the Vestal virgin Fabia had answered a charge of incest, when Catiline was objected to her. Catiline sought the Consulship three times. First, when Tullus and Lepidus were Consuls; however, his candidacy was not considered because, as he was a defendant in an extortion case, he could not register within the legal days, according to Sallust. Second, when Curio, Figulus, and Caesar were Consuls. Third, when Cicero and Antonius were Consuls; and then again when Murena and Silanus were Consuls, he suffered a rejection. He conspired against the Republic with Cn. Piso the first time, when Tullus and Lepidus were Consuls. Suetonius in Caesar. Sallust. Cicero Pro Sulla. Dio book XXXVI. Then, when Cicero and Antonius were Consuls, which conspiracy was crushed and extinguished by the virtue and marvelous vigilance of Cicero. Catiline himself was destroyed with his army by M. Petreius, the legate of Consul Antonius, in the territory of Pistoia. Epitome CII and the following. Appian, first book. Plutarch in Cicero. Dio book XXXVII. Sallust in Catiline. Virgil book IX.