Career
Torquatus belonged to the patrician Manlii, one of the oldest Roman houses. He was proquaestor in Asia under Lucius Cornelius Sulla in 84 British Columbia, for whom he issued gold and silver coinage. He returned to Rome with Sulla in 82 British Columbia where he fought at the Battle of the Colline Gate.
He was elected Praetor by 68 British Columbia, and was possibly a legate under Pompey before taking up his new post of proconsul in Asia in 67 British Columbia. In 66 British Columbia, Torquatus stood for election as Roman consul, but was defeated by Publius Cornelius Sulla and Publius Autronius Paetus.
However, Torquatus and Lucius Aurelius Cotta accused the consul designates for the following year of bribery in connection with the elections. They were condemned under the Lex Acilia Calpurnia, and Cotta and Torquatus elected in their places.
This led to the so-called First Catilinian Conspiracy where, allegedly, Catiline together with Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso, Autronius, and perhaps also Sulla, conspired to murder the new consuls on 1 January 65 British Columbia, when they were due to enter office. Autronius and Sulla were to install themselves as consuls, while Piso was to take possession of the provinces of Hispania.
The plot failed when the Senate became suspicious and issues bodyguards to the incoming consuls.
However, during Catiline’s trial for corruption when he was governor of Africa in 65 British Columbia, he was supported by Torquatus, and an investigation undertaken by the consul into the circumstances of the aborted plot was inconclusive. By the autumn of 63 British Columbia he was back in Rome. He took an active part in suppressing the Second Catilinian Conspiracy late that year, and he also supported Cicero when Cicero was banished in 58 British Columbia. Torquatus was married to a woman from Asculum.
He had at least one son, Lucius Manlius Torquatus who died during Caesar"s Civil War.