Sallust. Roman historian. Born at Amiternum in the territory of the Sabines. Attained the quaestorship and the tribunate, though a plebian. Sallust was expelled from the senate for a misdemeanor. Joined Caesar's party in the civil war, and became governor of Numidia. Enriched himself by extortions, and returned to Rome a rich man. Gave himself to literature. Wrote the "Catiline Conspiracy" and the "War with Jugurtha," among other works, in a terse and forcible style. Was precursor of Livy and Tacitus. As a writer, he pretended to be a moralist though he lived in vice, 86-35 B.C.

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