The Battle of Pistoria was fought in January of 62 BC between the forces of the Roman Republic and Catiline, a senatorial conspirator who wished to overthrow the republic, but failed in his objective. Catiline had been denounced by Cicero, and was attempting to flee with his force into Gaul and had been blocked by forces of Quintus Metellus Celer and Gaius Antonius Hybrida (joint Consul with Cicero for the year in question). Knowing that both armies were closing in on him, he decided to make a stand against Antonius Hybrida near Pistoria with his back against the mountains; he hoped that if he defeated Antonius, the other armies would lose morale and more people would flock to his cause. Some sources say that Catiline might have faced Antonius hoping he might still switch sides. Some accou