Quintus Labienus
Quintus Labienus Parthicus (died 39 BC) was a Roman general in the Late
Liberators' Civil War
After the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC, there was a civil war between the Caesarians, the supporters of Caesar, and the Pompeians, the supporters of
Continuing the Pompeian cause
According to
Justin thought the Parthians took the side of the Pompeians and allied with Labienus because they had formed a friendship with Pompey in the Third Mithridatic war (73-63 BC) and because they had defeated and killed Marcus Licinius Crassus, who was an ally of Caesar, at the Battle of Carrhae (53 BC). The son of Crassus was in the Caesarian party. Thus, they thought that if the Caesarians won, they would want to avenge the death of Crassus. Justin also wrote that they had already sent assistance to Cassius and Brutus, which is in contrast with Cassius Dio's account. Appian thought that it was the actions of Mark Antony which caused this Parthian invasion. When Antony fell in love with Cleopatra, he lost his interest in public affairs and did Cleopatra's bidding.[5] After Caesar's death on 44 BC there was civil strife in Syria and local tyrants took over the Syrian cities with the help of the Parthians. Antony expelled these tyrants, who took refuge in Parthia. He then imposed heavy tributes. He sent a cavalry force to plunder Palmyra, a rich city, but this was foiled by the townsfolk. He garrisoned Syria. This was the mistreatment Cassius Dio referred to. After this Antony went to Egypt to join Cleopatra.[6]
Pompeian-Parthian invasion of 40BC
Cassius Dio gave the details of Labienus's campaign. He invaded Phoenicia and attacked Apamea, but he was repulsed. However, he won over all the Roman garrisons in Phoenicia without resistance because they were soldiers who had fought with Cassius and Brutus and were sent there when Mark Antony incorporated them in his forces. They knew Labienus. Lucius Decidius Saxa, who had been put in command in Syria by Antony, was the only one who did not defect. He fled. Labienus pursued him and defeated him and his few followers. Saxa fled to Antioch. The townsfolk of Apamea surrendered because they thought that Saxa was dead. Labienus forced Antioch to surrender and Saxa fled to Cilicia. Labienus caught up with him, captured him and executed him. Meanwhile, Pacorus subjugated Syria, except for Tyre, whose townsfolk supported the Roman soldiers who fled there. Pacorus did not have a fleet and could not seize the city. He moved on to Judea, invaded it, deposed Hyrcanus II and installed, Antigonus II Mattathias his nephew and foe.[7] Josephus gave a detailed account of events in Judea when the Parthians invaded it.[8]
Meanwhile, Labienus occupied Cilicia and obtained the allegiance of the cities on the southern coast of Anatolia except for three cities in
Plutarch wrote that Mark Antony was slow to respond to Labienus's invasions because he was caught up with the charms of Cleopatra in Egypt and a luxurious lifestyle, feasting, playing sports and engaging in other youthful pursuits. He was surprised by reports that his wife
Mark Antony returned to Greece. He sent
The survivors fled without joining Labienus, and Ventidius pursued them up to their camp. Labienus had got there and prepared to offer battle. However, his soldiers were dejected because of the flight of the Parthians. Labienus gave up and tried to withdraw. Ventidius had learned about this from deserters and prepared some ambushes. The enemy was defeated and Labienus escaped. He spent some time in Cilicia in disguise. However, he was found out and arrested. Ventidius took charge of Cilicia and sent a cavalry force to Amanus, a mountain between Cilicia and Syria. It was nearly routed by Pharnapates, a lieutenant of Pacorus in charge of the garrison at the pass. Ventidius showed up unexpectedly, defeated the enemy and killed Pharnapates. The Parthians abandoned Syria and Ventidius seized it without a fight. He occupied Judea and left it after a frightened Antigonous fled.[14] For the actions of Ventidius and his lieutenant, Silo, in Judea see Josephus.[15]
According to
According to Justin, Ventidius routed the Parthian army in the absence of Pacorus. Justin, too, wrote that Ventidius pretended to be afraid. He put the Parthians to flight with part of his army. Pacorus thought that the fugitive had drawn all the Romans in their pursuit and that their camp was unguarded. He attacked it, but was defeated by the rest of the Roman troops. Pacorus died. This was the biggest defeat suffered by the Parthians in any war.[4]
See also
- Labiena (gens)
References
- ^ a b Festus, Summary of the history of Rome, 18. [1]
- ^ Cassius Dio, Roman History, 48.24.4-8, 25.1 [2]
- ^ Plutarch, The Live of Antony, 28.1 [3]
- ^ a b Justin, Epitome of Pompeius Trogus' Philippic Histories, 42.4 [4]
- Arcadiansrespectively
- ^ Appian, The Civil Wars, 5.9-10 [5]
- ^ Cassius Dio, Roman History, 48.25.2-4-24.1-2
- ^ Josephus, The Jewish War, 1.13-15.309 [6] Jewish Antiquities, 14.330-14 [7]
- ^ Cassius Dio, Roman History, 48.26.3-5
- ^ Plutarch, The Live of Antony, 29-30.1
- ^ Cassius Dio, Roman History, 48.27-30.1
- ^ Stories of Antiquity: Treaties of Brundisium & Tarentum [8]
- ^ Appian, The Civil Wars, 5.65 [9]
- ^ Cassius Dio, Roman History, 48.39-41
- ^ Josephus, The Jewish War, 1.15.288-16-317 Jewish antiquities 14.15-394-434
- ^ Florus, Epitome of Roman History, 2.19.3-7 [10]
- ^ Velleius Paterculus, Roman History , 2.78 [11]
- ^ Frontinus, Stratagems, 2.5.36 [12]
- ^ The Periochae of Livy, 127 [13]
- ^ Plutarch, The Life of Antony, 33.4
Sources
- Appian, Roman History: The Civil Wars, Vol 4, Books 3.27-5 (Loeb Classical Library), Loeb, 1989; ISBN 978-0674990067
- Cassius Dio, Roman History, Vol. 5 Books 46-50 (Loeb Classical Library), Loeb, 1989; ISBN 978-0674990913
- Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, Books 14-15 (Loeb Classical Library), Loeb, 1998; ISBN 978-0674995383
- Josephus, The Jewish War, Books 1-2 (Loeb Classical Library), Loeb,1997; ISBN 978-0674995680
- Justin, Epitome of the Philippic History of Pompeius Trogus (Classical Resources Series, No 3, Society for Classical Studies Classical Resources), Oxford University Press, 1994; ISBN 978-1555409517
- Plutarch Lives, vol. 9, "Demetrius and Antony". "Pyrrhus and Gaius Marius" (Loeb Classical Library), Loeb, 1920; ASIN: B00E6TGQKO
- Morello, Antonio (2005). Titus Labienus et Cingulum, Quintus Labienus Parthicus Volume 9 of Nummus et historia. Circolo numismatico Mario Rasile. Quintus Labienus at Google Books
External links
- Coins of Rome about Parthia: Quintus Labienus (42-39 B.C.) [14]