Quintus Salvius Salvidienus Rufus

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Quintus Salvius Salvidienus Rufus (c. 65 BC – 40 BC) was a Roman general and one of the principal generals and advisors of Octavian during the early years of his political activity.^[1]

Despite his humble origin, he was one of Octavian's best friends, along with

On Octavian's return from Greece after the Battle of Philippi, Salvidienus was sent to Spain with six legions, but he hastily retreated to Italy to oppose Lucius Antonius and Fulvia (Antony's wife), who had taken up arms against Octavian, starting the so-called Perusine War. Salvidienus captured and destroyed the city of Sentinum and then, with Agrippa, surrounded Lucius Antonius's forces in Perusia. The other Antonian generals, who had no clear orders from Mark Antony, remained out of the struggle, and Lucius Antonius was forced to surrender after a few months' siege (winter of 40 BC). After the end of the Perusian War, Octavian sent Salvidienus to Gaul as a governor, with a large army of eleven legions. He was also designated as consul for 39 BC, although he had not reached senatorial rank.

Despite all these honours, when Antony came from the East with large forces to confront Octavian, Salvidienus offered to desert to Antony with his legions. Apparently this proposal came after Antony had already made an agreement with Octavian (the Pact of

Sources

• Pelling, Christopher (2012). "Salvidienus Rufus, Quintus Salvius". In Hornblower, Simon; et al. (eds.). The Oxford classical dictionary (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
  OCLC 959667246
  .

• Appian, Civil Wars IV. 85, V. 20, 24, 27, 35, 66.
• Dio Cassius XLVIII. 13, 18, 33
• Livy Per 123, 127.
• Velleius Paterculus II. 59–76.
• Suetonius, Divus Augustus 66.
• Ronald Syme. The Roman Revolution. Oxford, 1939.
  ISBN 0-19-881001-6