Sertorian War

The Sertorian War was a civil war in the Roman Republic that happened between 80 and 72 BC. It was fought between two Roman groups. One group was led by a man named Quintus Sertorius, and the other group was led by the Roman Senate. The fighting mostly took place in a place called the Iberian Peninsula, which the Romans called Hispania.

Sertorius was an important leader who used clever and surprise attacks, called guerrilla warfare, to fight against the Senate's armies. He had help from many people who had to leave Rome because of earlier conflicts, as well as local tribes from the area. Sertorius was very good at winning battles and making people support him.

Over time, the Senate sent strong generals like Pompey to fight Sertorius, but he kept winning for several years. However, after some big battles, Sertorius's forces grew weaker. Finally, Sertorius was killed by one of his own men, and soon after, the war ended when the remaining fighters were defeated by Pompey.

Origins

During Sulla's civil war, a man named Quintus Sertorius fought on the side of the Marian-Cinnan faction against Sulla. In 83 BC, Sertorius was sent to govern the Iberian Peninsula. However, his side lost the war in Italy, and Sulla's army forced him to leave Iberia.

Sertorius eventually reached Tingis in North Africa. There, he helped local people remove a harsh leader named Ascalis. While in Tingis, leaders of the Lusitanians asked him to help them stand up against the Sullan government, which was treating them unfairly. The Lusitanians chose Sertorius because he had been fair when he governed earlier.

In 80 BC, Sertorius defeated a small navy near Mellaria and landed in the Iberian Peninsula at Baelo, close to the Pillars of Hercules. He organized local tribes and later fought a Roman army led by Lucius Fufidius in the Baetis valley.

Events of 80–77 BC

Quintus Sertorius won a battle at the Baetis River, taking control of most of Hispania Ulterior. He sent his lieutenant, Lucius Hirtuleius, to deal with the governor of Hispania Citerior and the remaining forces loyal to Sulla. The Roman leaders in Rome became worried and sent Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius to lead the forces in Hispania Ulterior.

Hirtuleius used clever tactics to weaken the enemy army led by Marcus Domitius Calvinus. They fought a battle at the Anas River where Domitius was defeated. Metellus, unaware of this loss, sent help, but it was also defeated by Sertorius. Metellus himself entered Spain and tried to fight Sertorius, but Sertorius used quick, surprise attacks that wore down Metellus’s forces. Metellus tried to build forts and secure towns, but Sertorius kept attacking, making it hard for Metellus to succeed.

Events of 76–74 BC

The Sertorian War was a big problem for the leaders in Rome. They decided to send more soldiers to help fight against Sertorius and his supporters in a place called Hispania. In 76 BC, a man named Pompey was given a big army to help fight Sertorius. Pompey had 30,000 foot soldiers and 1,000 horse soldiers.

Sertorius got help from a man named Marcus Perperna, who brought more soldiers to join him. Sertorius wanted to fight the cities that supported the other side. One of these cities was Lauron. Pompey tried to attack Sertorius there but was tricked and lost the battle.

Pompey also tried to capture a city called New Carthage but was blocked by Sertorius’s allies. In other battles near Valentia and Italica, Pompey and another leader named Metellus won against Sertorius’s generals. Later, Sertorius fought Pompey at the River Sucro, but the battle ended without a clear winner. Sertorius then went to a town called Clunia to rebuild his army while Pompey and Metellus followed him.

In 74 BC, Metellus and Pompey focused on fighting in the lands of the Celtiberians and Vaccaei. Sertorius surprised the Romans at one point, killing about 3,000 of them. The Senate tried to help Pompey with a naval attack, but it did not work well. Pompey wrote a letter to the Senate asking for more support because his soldiers were running out of food and money. Some rich people in Rome decided to help raise funds to support Pompey’s army.

Events of 73–71 BC

In 73 BC, tensions grew between the Roman and local groups in Sertorius's army. Some Romans were unhappy because Sertorius replaced his Roman guards with local soldiers, feeling they no longer trusted them. This led some Romans to plan against Sertorius, thinking he was becoming unpredictable.

In 72 BC, Perperna invited Sertorius to a feast, hoping to trick him into a dangerous situation. During the feast, Perperna's men attacked and killed Sertorius. After his death, many local allies made peace or went home. Perperna tried to keep control but needed a quick victory. However, Pompey set a trap, pretending to retreat before ambushing Perperna's army. Pompey's forces attacked from hidden positions, surrounding and defeating Perperna's troops. Perperna tried to save himself by offering important papers, but Pompey burned them and executed Perperna and those who had killed Sertorius. After this battle near Osca, the war was essentially over.

Main article: final battle

Aftermath

After the war ended, many of the people who supported the opposing leader were treated kindly by Pompey. They were given Roman citizenship, which allowed them to be part of Rome. Some who still opposed him were moved to a new place called Lugdunum Convenarum in southern Gaul.

Timeline

The Sertorian War lasted from 80 BC to 72 BC. It was a conflict between two Roman groups in a place called Hispania, which is now known as the Iberian Peninsula. One group was led by a man named Quintus Sertorius, and the other was led by the Roman Senate.

Here are some important events from the war:

• In 80 BC, Sertorius and his small army arrived at a place called Baelo near the Pillars of Hercules.
• Over the next few years, Sertorius and his soldiers fought many battles against Roman leaders sent to stop him.
• Sertorius used clever tactics, like guerrilla warfare, to wear down his enemies.
• In 73 BC, some of Sertorius's own followers turned against him and removed him during a banquet.
• The war ended in 72 BC when the remaining followers of Sertorius were defeated by another Roman leader named Pompey.

Notes and references

Modern Sources

Here are some books you can read to learn more about the Sertorian War:

• Philip Matyszak, Sertorius and the struggle for Spain, Pen & Sword Military, Barnsley (2013) ISBN 978-1-84884-787-3
• Philip Spann, Quintus Sertorius and the Legacy of Sulla, University of Arkansas Press (1987) ISBN 978-0-938626-64-0