LUCIUS SERVIUS, a Roman of a noble family, who, after ruining his fortune by debauchery and excesses of every kind, formed the design of destroying the senate, assassinating the consuls, seizing the public treasury, setting fire to Rome, and usurping sovereign power. In order to prosecute this design, Catiline associated in his plot some young noblemen, whom he prevailed upon, it is said, to drink human blood as a pledge of their union. His conspiracy, however, was discovered by the vigilance of Cicero, who was consul at the time; upon which Catiline retired from Rome, and having raised an army, fought with the utmost valour against Petreius, lieutenant to Antony, Cicero's colleague in the consulship. In this battle Catiline was defeated and killed, B.C. 62. The history of Catiline's conspiracy has been written by Sallust. See Roman History.