The Roman history and movie inspiration of the Catilinarian conspiracy explained

Warning: Contains spoilers for Megalopolis!

Francis Ford Coppola S Megalopolis is partly inspired by the Catilinarian conspiracy, a real historical event of ancient Rome. The 2024 sci-fi epic is a passion project of the legendary director, who self-financed the movie to finally make it after decades of turmoil. Megalopolis Explores Cesar Catilina’s (Adam Driver) desire to build a utopia known as Megalopolis out of what he sees as the crumbling civilization of New Rome. His dream is met with a lot of opposition, whether from New Rome mayor Franklin Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito) or Cesar’s cousin Clodio Pulcher (Shia LaBeouf).

The Roman influence over Megalopolis is clear from the beginning of Francis Ford Coppola’s film, and it does not disappear as it continues. Whether its characters with names of notable people in Roman history, clothes made similarly, or futuristic America taking the name New Rome, the movie is heavily tied to Rome. One comparison that is not directly made in the movie is that between Megalopolis‘End and the Catilinarian Conspiracy. The true story of the events heavily inspired Coppola’s story.

The True Story of Rome’s Catilinarian Conspiracy

A Roman rebel of 63 BC

The Catilinarian conspiracy is the name of an event in ancient Rome in 63 BC, where a politician tried to overthrow the then current leaders in power. The man who started the movement was Lucius Sergius CatilinaAlso known as Cataline. He spent the previous years trying to secure a place in the consulate, but was repeatedly rejected, despite his close alignment with some of the figureheads. This led Cataline to devise a plot to overthrow the consulship, specifically targeting Marcus Tullius Cicero and Gaius Antonius Hybrida. Cataline recruited several former politicians to his cause early on.

Catalin’s plan for a coup that would end him in power gained steam early, and it was towards the end of 63 BC that Cicero and his allies learned of his plans from letters which Marcus Licinius Crassus gave them. This led to an attempted assassination of Cicero in November 63 BCAnd Katalin was forced to flee the city. Cicero’s power increased during this time, executing citizens without trial who were thought to be aligned with Catalin. He was able to do this thanks to the Senate declaration senatus consultum ultimum.

Cicero’s executions marked the end of the Catalinari conspiracy. They led to a decline in support for Cataline’s cause and a final battle between the opposing forces in early 62 BC. Katalin died in the battleHow Cicero’s co-consul Antony led the Roman army to victory. The end result initially brought Cicero a lot of praise for protecting the state, but not everyone was satisfied with the lengths he went to do so. This even led to Fablius Claudius Fulcher introducing a law that forced Cicero to flee for a short time after the Catholic conspiracy was over.

Did Julius Caesar Have a Role in the Catilinarian Conspiracy?

Julius Caesar is a partial inspiration for Adam Driver’s Cesar Catilina

Adam Driver’s character in Megalopolis is an obvious stand-in for Cataline thanks to his last name, but changing his name to Cesar is also notable considering the history of Roman Emperor Julius Caesar. Although The most notable events in Caesar’s life happened after the Catalinarian conspiracy was overThis event still played a role in his continued rise to power. At one point, Cicero and his consul asked members of the Senate to weigh in on what should happen to a few prisoners. They all voted for the death penalty, except for then praetor-elect Julius Caesar.

Caesar suggested that the criminals should receive a life sentence in prisonWhat was illegal, without first having a trial. Still, many other politicians initially liked the non-death penalty proposal, which was viewed as more lenient than the death penalty. It was only after he shared his thoughts that Cato the Younger swayed the Senate back in favor of the death penalty option. There is even a suggestion made by Cato that Caesar is working with Catiline. While some scholars support the idea of ​​Caesar supporting Catalina in different ways, they do not believe it extended to helping the conspiracy.

How Megalopolis copies the Catilinarian Conspiracy’s events

Some major events are similar

Francis Ford Coppola did not specifically cite the actual Catlinari Conspiracy as an inspiration for MegalopolisBut the similarities are many and clear. The movie is ultimately about a struggle for power in New Rome and various parties vying for leadership positions. Cicero is once again the main leader in history who is looked upon as someone who needs to be overthrown, just as he was in the Catholic conspiracy. Meanwhile, It is Cesar Catilina who primarily opposes Cicero And he wants his views on the whole population, for the world.

The war of ideas between Caesar and Cicero is much less combative in Megalopolis As Cicero and Catiline’s was in the conspiracy. Still, the film holds a piece of their story, as Cesar was accused of multiple crimes and Cicero played a key role in the final verdict. The main coup in Coppola’s movie instead comes through Wah Platinum and Claudio Pulcher Trying to become the leader of Hamilton Crassus III’s fortune and banks. This helps keep a very key ingredient in the true story of the conspiracy as part of the narrative.

Megalopolis major differences from the Catilinarian conspiracy

Francis Ford Coppola’s movie doesn’t exactly follow the story

Since Megalopolis Is only inspired by the events of the Catilinarian conspiracy instead of a direct adaptation of the historical event, there are also a number of key differences. These are more than the obvious futuristic setting difference of the movie. One of the biggest changes comes down to Cesar Catilina’s fate. While the real Catalinus died due to his opposition to Cicero, Cesar lives through the end of Megalopolis. Not only does he win, but he effectively wins the “war” with Cicero as Megalopolis opens up to the public and the feud is put aside so their families can live in harmony together.

Another notable change is the role of the assassination attempt. Megalopolis Makes Cesar the one who is nearly killed by an assassination instead of Cicero. Cesar is shot at close range by a young child in the third act, and is only saved thanks to Megalon’s rare abilities. There is never an attempt made on Cicero’s life in the movie. Furthermore, it is Clodio’s faction that is behind the assassination attempt on Cesar.

Since Megalopolis‘ Ending is different from the real Catilinarian conspiracy about who wins and loses, it is no surprise that many character fates and roles differ from their real-life counterparts beyond Cesar. Plodio’s supporters turn against him in the end and hang him upside down while he is still alive, potentially resulting in his eventual death despite Plodio surviving the conspiracy. Hamilton Crassus III’s turn to help Cesar fund Megalopolis is also different As the one who helped expose the coup attempt. Moreover, Julia plays a major role in Megalopolis Despite Catalina’s wife or Cicero’s daughter had no notable involvement.