Battle of Italica

Coordinates: 37°26′38″N 6°02′48″W / 37.44389°N 6.04667°W / 37.44389; -6.04667
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Battle of Italica
Part of the Sertorian War
Date75 BC
Location
near Seville in Spain
37°26′38″N 6°02′48″W / 37.44389°N 6.04667°W / 37.44389; -6.04667
Result Roman victory
Belligerents
Roman Republic Sertorian Rebels
Commanders and leaders
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius
Lucius Hirtuleius
Strength
4 understrength legions and an unknown number of auxiliaries and allied troops unknown but similar to Metellus' force
Casualties and losses
unknown but significantly lower than their opponents 20,000[1]
Battle of Italica is located in Spain
Battle of Italica
Location within Spain

The Battle of Italica was fought in 75 BC between a rebel army under the command of Lucius Hirtuleius a legate of the Roman rebel Quintus Sertorius and a Roman Republican army under the command of the Roman general and proconsul of Hispania Ulterior Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius. The battle was fought near Italica (a Roman colony in Spain) and ended in a stunning victory for the Metellan army.[2]

Background

In 88 BC,

Tingis. Here the Lusitanians, a fierce Iberian
tribe who were about to be invaded by a Sullan governor, approached him. They asked him to become their war leader in the fight against the Sullans.

In 80 BC Sertorius landed at the little fishing town of Baelo near the Pillars of Hercules (Gibraltar) and returned to Hispania. Soon after his landing he fought and defeated the Sullan general Lucius Fufidius (the aforementioned Sullan governor) at the Baetis river. After this he defeated several Sullan armies and drove his opponents from Hispania.

Threatened by Sertorius' success the Senate in Rome upgraded

the Battle of Lauron).[8]

Prelude

In 75 BC, Sertorius decided to take on Metellus and leave the battered Pompey to his legates Perpenna and Gaius Herennius. Pompey however defeated his opponents in a

battle near Valentia[9] and forced Sertorius to come and take charge of the situation, leaving Hirtuleius to deal with Metellus.[10]
Metellus and Hirtuleius were campaigning near the Roman colony of Italica when Hirtuleius made the mistake of trying to force his opponent into a pitched battle.

The battle

Hirtuleius mustered his army some time soon after dawn and marched on Metellus's encampment trying to provoke his opponent into battle. Metellus kept his troops in his camp behind their entrenchments until noon. It was extremely hot and Hirtuleius's troops were soon sweltering out in the open while Metellus's legionaries remained relatively fresh.[11] Since his enemy remained drawn up in front of his camp for hours, Metellus had plenty of time to study their dispositions and make his own plans accordingly.[12] He observed that Hirtuleius had posted his strongest units in the centre of his battle line and decided to use this to his advantage. When the battle finally commenced Metellus held back his own centre and concentrated on winning on the flanks. After routing their opponents his flanks he enveloped Hirtuleius centre.[13] This was the classic tactic used by Hannibal at Cannae almost a century and a half ago. It had worked then and it had worked now. Hirtuleius lost 20,000 men at Italica[1] and, chastened, he fled north to join his commander Sertorius who was squaring off against Pompey. Metellus was right on his heels wanting to make the most of his victory by trapping Sertorius between Pompey and himself.

Aftermath

With Hirtuleius' army destroyed Metellus and Pompey had the opportunity to catch Sertorius between themselves. Metellus marched his army north to fall on Sertorius' rear, unfortunately Pompey decided to take Sertorius on before Metellus arrived and almost lost his army and life at the Battle of Sucro. When Metellus finally arrived Sertorius retreated toward Clunia in Celtiberia and reverted to guerrilla warfare. The war would drag on for another three years and only end because a few of his own men plotted against Sertorius and assassinated him.

References

  1. ^ a b John Leach, Pompey the Great, p.48; Philip Matyszak, Sertorius and the Struggle for Spain, p.119.
  2. ^ Livy, Epitome, 91.4; Frontinus, Stratagems, 2.1.2 and 2.3.5; John Leach, Pompey the Great, p.47; Philip Matyszak, Sertorius and the Struggle for Spain, pp.118-119.
  3. ^ Plutarch, Life of Sertorius , 6.
  4. ^ Plutarch, Life of Sertorius, 7.
  5. ^ Philip Matyszak, Sertorius and the Struggle for Spain, p.68.
  6. ^ Plutarch, Life of Pompey, 17.
  7. ^ Plutarch, Life of Sertorius, 15.
  8. ^ Plutarch, Life of Sertorius, 18; Plutarch, Life of Pompey, 18; Frontinus, Stratagems, 2.5.31; John Leach, Pompey the Great, pp.226-227; Philip Matyszak, Sertorius and the Struggle for Spain, pp.96-101.
  9. ^ Plutarch, Life of Pompey, 18.
  10. ^ Plutarch, Life of Pompey, 19.
  11. ^ Frontinus, Stratagems, 2.1.2.
  12. ^ Philip Matyszak, Sertorius and the Struggle for Spain, p.119.
  13. ^ Frontinus, Stratagems, 2.3.5.