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 Pompey the Great, assailed the historian in a bitter satire because of his criticisms of Pompey. The best authenticated charge against him is that of an intrigue with the wife of Milo, made by Gellius on the authority of Varro. Varro, however, was a Pompeian and was probably not over-critical in examining the authenticity of a bit of scandal about a prominent Caesarian.

According to his own statement, Sallust must have entered upon a political career at Rome at an early age. He attained the quaestorship and thus gained admission to the senate, but in what year this happened is uncertain. In 52 he was tribune of the commons and took sides with his two colleagues, Quintus Pompeius and Titus Munatius Plancus, against Cicero and Milo after the murder of Clodius. In 50 he fell a victim to the partisan activity of the censor Appius Claudius Pulcher, and was expelled from the senate; the charges made against him on that occasion need not be taken too seriously. Mommsen thought that Cicero addressed Ad Fam. 2. 17 to C. Sallustius, and that therefore the historian was legatus pro praetore to Bibulus in Syria during the year 50–51.