Publius Autronius Paetus
Publius Autronius Paetus was a politician of the late Roman Republic who was involved in the conspiracy of Catiline.
He was elected consul in 66 BC, alongside Publius Cornelius Sulla, but before they could take office both were accused of electoral corruption by Lucius Aurelius Cotta and Lucius Manlius Torquatus. They were found guilty, their election was declared void and their accusers were elected consuls in their place.
Some sources claim that Autronius conspired with Catiline to murder Paetus and his co-consul on the day of their installation, January 1, 65 BC, but the plot collapsed when Catiline gave the signal before all the conspirators were assembled. Autronius was implicated in the failed conspiracy, and, after his old friend Cicero refused to defend him, he was convicted and sent into exile in Epeirus. When Cicero himself was exiled in 58 BC, he was concerned that Autronius might attempt to kill him. However, this conspiracy is not described consistently in contemporary sources. Modern historians doubt this account, and question whether this conspiracy existed.
