Sertorius, Quintus

Sertorius, Quintus
born с 126, Nursia, Sabini
died 73 BC

Roman statesman and military commander.

He commanded an army in the Social War, and he helped Marius take Rome (87–86) in his struggle against Sulla. As praetor in 83 he was sent to Spain; he fled to Mauretania when Sulla pursued him but later overthrew Sulla's governor in Farther Spain and by 77 was ruler of most of Spain. When Pompey the Great and Metellus Pius finally arrived to put down the rebellion, he skillfully kept them at bay until the tide turned in his favour. When troop morale sank, he was murdered by a conspiracy of officers.

* * *

▪ Roman statesman
born c. 123 BC, , Nursia, Sabini
died 72 BC

      Roman statesman and military commander who, defying the Roman Senate, became independent ruler of most of Spain for eight years.

      After acquiring some reputation in Rome as a jurist and orator, Sertorius fought in Gaul against the invading Cimbri and Teutons (105 and 102) and in 97 served in Spain. In 90 he was quaestor in Cisalpine Gaul and commanded an army in the Social War.

      During the civil war (87–86) between the supporters of Lucius Cornelius Sulla and Gaius Marius (Marius, Gaius), Sertorius supported Marius and was prominent in the latter's successful seizure of Rome. Sertorius was praetor in 83 and was assigned the Spanish provinces, for which he left immediately. When Sulla sent two legions against him, Sertorius retreated to Mauretania. Sertorius returned to Spain in 80, and his bravery and eloquence gained him the allegiance of the Lusitanians as well as of many Roman refugees and deserters. With these forces he was able to overthrow the Sullan governor of Farther Spain, Quintus Metellus Pius. Sertorius was the ruler of all Nearer Spain and most of Farther Spain by the end of 77. He was soon joined by M. Perperna and other armed supporters of the unsuccessful anti-Sullan rebel Marcus Lepidus. In 77 a Roman army under Gnaeus Pompey arrived to reestablish the Senate's control in Spain. For several years Sertorius skillfully kept the armies of both Pompey and Metellus Pius at bay and retained his rule over Spain. In 74, however, the tide began to turn against Sertorius. The Iberians' morale declined, and Sertorius, driven to harsh measures to maintain order, lost popularity. In 72 he was murdered in a conspiracy headed by Perperna and other officers jealous of his authority.

      Sertorius was in revolt perhaps less against Rome than against the constitution Sulla had imposed on Rome. He established in Spain a senate of 300 members drawn mainly from Roman immigrants but probably including a few Spaniards. Strict and severe with his soldiers, he was considerate of the local inhabitants. He was accompanied everywhere by a white fawn, which, while supposedly communicating to him the advice of the goddess Diana, served to promote his popularity among the superstitious tribesmen.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sertorius — Quintus Sertorius (* 123 v. Chr. vermutlich in Nursia; † 72 v. Chr.) war ein römischer Politiker und Feldherr. Er stammte aus einer Ritterfamilie aus Nursia im Land der Sabiner und nahm als Offizier an verschiedenen Kämpfen teil, so gegen die… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • SERTORIUS — QUINTUS (SERTORIUS 121 SERTORIUS 72) «Rome n’est plus dans Rome, elle est toute où je suis.» Ainsi parle Sertorius dans la tragédie de Corneille. Sertorius est en effet le seul homme politique de la République romaine qui ait fait sécession entre …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Quīntus — Quintus ist ein männlicher Vorname. Der Name war besonders im Römischen Reich beliebt. Seltener kommt Quintus auch als Familienname vor. Weitere Bedeutung: In Chormusik der Renaissance wie Madrigal und Motette bezeichnet Quintus eine Stimmlage… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Quintus — * Quintus (name) * Quintus Caecilius Metellus Nepos * Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar * Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar (I) * Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar (II) * Quintus Antistius Adventus * Quintus Aurelius Symmachus (c. 340–c. 402) *… …   Wikipedia

  • Sertorius — Sertorius,   Quintus, römischer Politiker, * Nursia um 123 v. Chr., ✝ 72 v. Chr.; Anhänger des Marius, seit 83 v. Chr. Statthalter in Spanien, das er in der Zeit des Sulla von Rom unabhängig zu machen suchte. Den Krieg um Spanien konnte Pompeius… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Sertorĭus — Sertorĭus, Quintus, aus Nursia im Sabinerland, studirte in Rom Rechtswissenschaft, wurde 105 v. Chr. Soldat u. focht dann unter C. Servilius Cäpio gegen die Cimbern; 97 ging er unter C. Didius als Tribunus militum nach Spanien, wurde nach seiner… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Sertorĭus — Sertorĭus, Quintus, röm. Feldherr, geb. zu Nursia im Sabinerland, bahnte sich durch Tapferkeit und Feldherrngeschick im Kriege gegen die Cimbern und Teutonen und im Bundesgenossenkrieg den Weg zu Ansehen und Ehrenstellen, schloß sich im… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Sertorius — Sertorĭus, Quintus, röm. Feldherr, aus Nursia, gehörte im ersten Bürgerkrieg zur Partei des Marius und verteidigte sich als Proprätor seit 82 v. Chr. in Spanien glücklich gegen die Heere der sullanischen Partei, zuletzt gegen Pompejus, ward 72… …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Sertorius — Sertorius, Quintus, röm. Feldherr, geb. zu Nursia, war im Bürgerkriege auf Seite des Marius der einzige menschliche Parteiführer, entwich nach Sullas Sieg nach Spanien und organisirte mit andern Flüchtlingen ein span. Heer, mit welchem er sich 9… …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • Quintus — (as used in expressions) Quintus Horatius Flaccus Quintus Caepio Brutus Decius Gaius Messius Quintus Trajanus Ennius Quintus Fabius Maximus Cunctator Quintus Scaevola Quintus Mucius Sertorius Quintus Symmachus Quintus Aurelius * * * …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”