Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius | |
---|---|
Born | c. 128 BC |
Died | 63 BC (aged c. 65) |
Occupation(s) | Politician and military leader |
Office |
|
Relatives | |
Awards | Roman triumph |
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius (c. 128 – 63 BC) was a general and statesman of the Roman Republic. His father Metellus Numidicus was banished from Rome through the machinations of Gaius Marius. He, because of his constant and unbending attempts to have his father officially recalled from exile, was given the agnomen (nickname) Pius.[2]
During the civil wars between 88 and 80 BC, Pius sided with Lucius Cornelius Sulla. He successfully commanded Sulla's forces in the northern theatre (northern Italy and Cisalpine Gaul). In 81 BC he became pontifex maximus, then consul the following year alongside Sulla. As proconsul Pius fought against Sertorius (a former supporter of Marius) on the Iberian peninsula; in the so-called Sertorian War. He served alongside Pompey slowly grinding down the rebels from 79 to 72/71 BC. For his victories during the Sertorian War he was granted a triumph.
Early career
Metellus Pius, a member of the distinguished
Sometime during the 90s BC, Metellus Pius was elected to the
In 88 BC, after being sidelined by his political opponents, Sulla marched his legions on Rome and took the capital. He took revenge on his enemies and forced Marius into exile. Sulla then left Italy and went east to fight in the
Marching to Rome, he made camp at the Alban Hills, accompanied by Publius Licinius Crassus. Here he met up with Gnaeus Octavius, who had abandoned Rome, but both men soon fell out with each other, over Metellus Pius' troops demanding that their commander take over overall command from Gnaeus Octavius. The Senate then asked him to negotiate with Cinna on their behalf, during which time he recognized Cinna as the legitimate consul.[12] However, with Cinna's occupation of Rome and the executions initiated by Gaius Marius, Metellus Pius decided to abandon Rome and head to North Africa.[13]
Supporter of Sulla
Arriving in Africa by early 86 BC, Metellus Pius started raising an army from his clients, with the intent of joining
By 83 BC, Sulla had returned from the east and was slowly marching towards Rome for his confrontation with the Marian regime. Moving quickly, Metellus was the first to meet him along the
In 82 BC, Sulla sent him to secure the northern parts of Italy, he was accompanied by a young
During this entire period, he was shown to be one of Sulla's best subordinates. Finally in 80 BC, he was appointed consul alongside Sulla.[29][30] Metellus Pius used his position to reward Quintus Calidius, who had helped bring his father back, by supporting his bid for the praetorship.[31]
Sertorian War
Sometime during his consulship,
From the start, it was clear that Metellus was outclassed by the brilliant Sertorius[34] suffering repeated defeats through Sertorius’ use of guerrilla tactics. His legate Thorius (probably Lucius Thorius Balbus[35]) −dispatched to come to the assistance of the governor of Hispania Citerior, Marcus Domitius Calvinus− was defeated by Sertorius (79 BC).[36] After Thorius's defeat Metellus decided to take on Sertorius himself. Metellus was a solid if unspectacular general, under normal circumstances he would have easily trounced his opponent with his superior forces, but now he was pitted against the tactically brilliant Sertorius.[37] Plutarch describes the unequal campaign which followed:
He [Metellus] was accustomed to regular warfare with heavy infantry. He liked to command a solid, ponderous bloc of infantry. This formation was superbly trained to push back and vanquish the enemy in close quarter combat. For constantly chasing men who floated like the wind over the mountains he had to climb for enduring – as their enemy did – constant hunger without either tent or campfire, his army was useless. The light armour and consequent agility of his Iberian warriors meant Sertorius was constantly shifting his focus and changing the situation, until Metellus was at his wits' end. Metellus was no longer young, and after the many heroic contests of his youth he was now somewhat inclined to ease and luxury, while Sertorius was full of mature vigour. ... When Sertorius challenged Metellus to single combat, Metellus' men cheered and urged him to fight it out, general to general, and they mocked him when he declined.[38]
After an unsuccessful push towards the
When the consuls of 78 BC declined to join Metellus as proconsuls once their terms ended, the Senate in late 77 BC, hearing of Metellus' ongoing reverses at the hands of Sertorius, decided to send
Italica
The battle was Metellus' first major victory in the Sertorian War. It freed Metellus' army from the western theatre and allowed him to march against Sertorius' rear in the eastern theatre.
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. He mustered his army soon after dawn and marched on Metellus' encampment. Metellus mustered his troops too, but kept them behind his entrenchments until noon. It was extremely hot and Hirtuleius' troops were soon sweltering while Metellus' legionaries remained relatively fresh.[47] 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. He had observed that Hirtuleius had posted his strongest units in the centre of his battle-line.[48]
When the battle finally commenced Metellus held back his own centre and concentrated on winning on the flanks. After defeating his opponent's flanks he enveloped Hirtuleius' centre and slaughtered them.[49] This was the classic tactic used by Hannibal at Cannae almost a century and a half previous. Hirtuleius lost 20,000 men at Italica[50] and fled north to join his commander Sertorius who was squaring off against Pompey.
Sucro and Saguntum
Metellus came to the aid of Pompey after his near defeat at Sucro.[51] They then followed Sertorius inland to a town called Segontia and finally won a battle against Sertorius himself.[52] Metellus was acclaimed imperator by his men.[53]
Plutarch remarks that this battle was forced upon Sertorius.[54] This was probably done by his Celt-Iberian troops who wanted to defend Segontia, one of their native towns. The fighting started at noon and lasted well into the night. Sertorius first fought Pompey while his legates Perpenna and Hirtuleius fought Metellus. After Hirtuleius had fallen Sertorius switched places with Perpenna and launched several personally-led attacks on Metellus. (Sertorius probably reckoned Metellus' army would break without its leader.) Metellus stood his ground and in the course of the fight he was wounded by a spear. This turned out to be a turning point in the battle, for Metellus' men counter-attacked in revenge and pushed back the Iberians.[54]
All the Romans who saw or heard of this [Metellus being wounded] were filled with shame at the idea of deserting their commander. The same event filled them with fury against the enemy. So, they covered Metellus with their shields and carried him out of danger. Then they fell energetically on the Iberians and pushed them back. Victory changed sides.Plutarch[54]
Metellus then complacently decided to rest his troops and made camp. Sertorius in the meantime had regrouped his men and in the evening launched an unexpected attack on Metellus' camp, and attempted to exploit its vulnerable position by cutting it off with a trench. Unfortunately for the Sertorians, Pompey and his army now showed up and forced them to withdraw. Over the course of the battle Pompey had lost 6,000 men while Sertorius had lost only 3,000, but to offset this Perperna had lost some 5,000 soldiers. Metellus' losses are unknown, but must have been significant as well.[55]
The final years
Metellus Pius spent the winter of 75–74 BC in Gaul, where he received two legions in reinforcements. Upon his return to Hispania in 74 BC, he captured the towns of
Later career
Regardless of his working relationship with Pompey in Hispania, Metellus Pius' politics meant that he was opposed to Pompey's continued irregular extra-magisterial career throughout the 60s BC. Though Pompey was largely untouchable, senatorial resentment could be visited upon his clients and (former) subordinates. When the former plebeian tribune and associate of Pompey, Gaius Cornelius, was accused of maiestas, the prosecution called on as witnesses a number of key anti-Pompeian former consuls, including Metellus Pius.[61]
Metellus Pius was a friend and patron of the noted poet Aulus Licinius Archias.[62] Pius died around 63 BC; that year, Julius Caesar succeeded him as pontifex maximus.
Family relations
Quintus Caecilius had no natural children. Therefore by his will he adopted a member of the
In fiction
Metellus Pius is a prominent character in the novels The First Man in Rome, The Grass Crown and Fortune's Favorites by Colleen McCullough. In the novels he is characterised as having a stutter, and is referred to by contemporaries, including Sulla, as "the Piglet".
He is also mentioned in John Maddox Roberts' SPQR series as the fictional main character Decius Caecilius Metellus' uncle.
References
- ^ All offices from Broughton 1952, p. 540.
- ^ Cic. P. Red. 37; Ad Quir. 6; Arch. 6; Vell. II 15, 3
- ^ Sall. Iug. 64.4; Plut. Mar. 8.4.
- ^ Broughton 1952, p. 5.
- ^ Broughton 1952, p. 37.
- ^ Brennan 2000, p. 377.
- ^ Brennan 2000, p. 378; Broughton 1986, p. 41.
- ^ Brennan, pp 377-378
- ^ Broughton 1952, p. 42; Brennan 2000, p. 378; Diod. 37.2.9—11; App. BCiv. 1.53; Auc. Vir. Ill. 63, 1.
- ^ Cic. Brut. 305.
- ^ Broughton 1952, p. 47.
- ^ Lovano 2002, p. 44; Broughton 1952, p. 47.
- ^ Brennan 2000, p. 379; Broughton 1952, p. 47.
- ^ Lovano, pg. 71
- ^ Lovano, pg. 115; Brennan, pg. 543
- )
- ^ Philip Matyszak, Sertorius and the Struggle for Spain, p.67
- ^ Broughton II, pg. 55
- ^ Broughton II, pg. 60
- ^ Lovano, pg. 95
- ^ Broughton II, pg. 61
- ^ Gruen, pgs. 7 & 18
- ^ Brennan, pg. 381; Lovano, pg. 115
- ^ Lovano, pg. 120
- ^ a b c Leach, 1978, p. 26
- ^ Broughton II, pg. 68
- ^ Broughton II, pg. 78
- ^ Broughton III, pgs. 40-41
- ^ Broughton II, pg. 79
- ^ Cic. Arch. 6—7, 9, 31
- ^ Smith, pg. 1060
- ^ Broughton II, pg. 84; Brennan, pg. 506
- ^ Broughton II, pg. 82
- ^ Gruen, pg. 18
- ^ Philip Matyszak, Sertorius and the Struggle for Spain, p.80.
- ^ Brennan, pg. 506; Broughton II, pg. 84
- ^ Philip Matyszak, Sertorius and the Struggle for Spain, p.81.
- ^ Plutarch, Life of Sertorius, 12–13 passim
- ^ Sallust, Histories, 1.113; Orosius, Contra Paganos, 5.23; Broughton II, pp. 82, 86; Brennan, p. 506; Philip Matyszak, Sertorius and the Struggle for Spain, pp. 83–84
- ^ Brennan, p. 512
- ^ Philip Matyszak, Sertorius and the Struggle for Spain, p. 85.
- ^ Gruen, pp. 18–19
- ^ Gruen, p. 19
- ^ Frontinus, Stratagems, 2.5.31; Plutarch, Life of Pompey, 18.3; Plutarch, Life of Sertorius, 18; John Leach, Pompey the Great, pp. 226–227; Philip Matyszak, Sertorius and the Struggle for Spain, pp. 96–101.
- ^ Plutarch, Life of Pompey, 18; John Leach, Pompey the Great, p. 48; Philip Matyszak, Sertorius and the Struggle for Spain, pp. 117–118.
- ^ 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; Broughton II, p. 93.
- ^ Frontinus, Stratagems, 2.1.2.
- ^ Matyszak 2013, p. 119.
- ^ Frontinus, Stratagems, 2.3.5.
- ^ Leach 1978, p. 48.
- ^ Appian, Civil Wars, 1.110; Plutarch, Life of Sertorius, 19; Plutarch, Life of Pompey, 18; Pompey had refused to wait for Metellus before engaging Sertorius in battle and almost lost his army.
- ^ Plutarch, Life of Sertorius, 21; Appian, Civil Wars, 1.110.
- ^ Plutarch, Life of Sertorius, 22; Brennan, p. 508; Broughton II, p. 98
- ^ a b c Plutarch, Life of Sertorius, 21.
- ^ Appian, Civil Wars, 1.110.
- ^ Broughton II, p. 104; Brennan, p. 508
- ^ a b John Leach, Pompey the Great, p. 51.
- ^ Matthew Dillon, Lynda Garland, Ancient Rome: From the Early Republic to the Assassination of Julius Caesar (2005), p. 92
- ^ Broughton II, p. 122; Smith, p. 1060
- ^ Sallust Hist. I 110—121; II 28, 59, 68—70; III 45 M; IV 49 M; Liv. Per. 91—93; Strabo III 4, 13; Valerius Maximus VIII 15, 8; IX 1, 5; Vell. II 30, 2; Plut. Sert. 12—13; 19—22; 27; Pomp. 18—19; App. BC I 108—112, 115, 121; Ib. 101; Auc. Vir. Ill. 63, 2; Florus II 10; Eutrop. VI 1, 3; 5, 2; Oros. V 23; Frontinus Stratagemata I 1, 12; II 1, 2—34 3, 5; 7, 5
- ^ Gruen, pp. 262–265
- ^ Gruen, p. 267
Bibliography
- Badian, Ernst (2012). "Caecilius Metellus Pius, Quintus". Oxford Classical Dictionary (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. – via Oxford Research Encyclopedias.
- Brennan, T Corey (2000). The praetorship in the Roman republic. Vol. 2.
- Broughton, T R S (1952). Magistrates of the Roman republic. Vol. 2. New York: American Philological Association.
- Broughton, T R S (1986). Magistrates of the Roman republic. Vol. 3.
- Gruen, Erich (1995). The last generation of the Roman republic. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-02238-6.
- Konrad, C F (1994). Plutarch's Sertorius: a historical commentary. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 0-8078-2139-X.
- Leach, John (1978). Pompey the Great. Biddle. ISBN 0-8476-6035-4.
- Lovano, Michael (2002). The age of Cinna: crucible of late republican Rome. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag. ISBN 978-3-515-07948-8.
- Matyszak, Philip (2013). Sertorius and the struggle of Spain. Barnsley, England: Pen and Sword. ISBN 978-1-84884-787-3.
- Münzer, Friedrich (1897). Wikisource. . Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft (in German). Vol. III, 1. Stuttgart: Butcher. cols. 1221–24 – via
- Smith, William, ed. (1867). Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. Vol. 2.
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(help) - Zmeskal, Klaus (2009). Adfinitas (in German). Vol. 1. Passau: Verlag Karl Stutz. ISBN 978-3-88849-304-1.