Electoral system and electoral campaign in Ancient Rome

One of the most famous orators of the Antiquity, Marcus Tullius Cicero entered the election for the consul's position held in 64 B.C. arranged under extremely disturbed circumstances and he won the consulatus for 63 B.C. Difficulties were caused among others by the fact that an indebted nobleman called Lucius Sergius Catilina saw the only breakthrough for ensuring his political and financial survival in being elected consul, and manifested that in case he would lose he would be willing to take as well violent actions (later, he actually carried out his threats). The orator's younger brother, Quintus Tullius Cicero wanted to help his brother in his campaign foreseen as having quite a lot of turns; so, he wrote a manual for him on the lawful and illegal instruments that could be used in the elections. This work, Commentariolum petitionis (A Handbook for Applicants for Offices) is the first summary of campaign strategy in the history of mankind. In addition to the evaluation of the given situation, the presentation (and exploitation) of the weaknesses of counter nominees, the book provides advice on several counts that might possibly continue to have relevance even today. We do not know to what extent the experienced politician, Cicero adhered to his younger brother's advice; it is, however, a fact that he was elected consul, and as a consul he defeated Catilina's revolt in. 63 B.C.