Sertorian War

== Origins ==

== Origins ==

During [[Sulla's civil war]], Quintus Sertorius fought for the [[Gaius Marius|Marian]]-[[Lucius Cornelius Cinna|Cinnan]] faction against Sulla. In 83 BC, Sertorius, after falling out with his faction's leadership, was sent to the Iberian Peninsula as its governor. Unfortunately for Sertorius, his faction lost the war in Italy, and Sulla dispatched an army which drove him from Iberia. After some wandering, Sertorius ended up at [[Tingis]] in North Africa. There, he helped the locals depose Ascalis, a pro-Sullan tyrant. In Tingis he was met by an embassy of discontented [[Lusitanians]], a fierce Celtic people, who implored him to lead them against the Sullan government which was extorting them back home. The Lusitanians chose Sertorius because of the mild policy he had pursued while governor in 82 BC, as compared to harsher earlier governors.Philip Spann, ''Quintus Sertorius and the Legacy of Sulla'', p. 54.

During [[Sulla's civil war]], Quintus Sertorius fought for the [[Gaius Marius|Marian]]-[[Lucius Cornelius Cinna|Cinnan]] faction against Sulla. In 83 BC, Sertorius, after falling out with his faction's leadership, was sent to the Iberian Peninsula as its governor. Unfortunately for Sertorius, his faction lost the war in Italy, and Sulla dispatched an army which drove him from Iberia. After some wandering, Sertorius ended up in [[Tingis]] in North Africa. There, he helped the locals depose Ascalis, a pro-Sullan tyrant. In Tingis he was met by an embassy of discontented [[Lusitanians]], a fierce Celtic people, who implored him to lead them against the Sullan government which was extorting them back home. The Lusitanians chose Sertorius because of the mild policy he had pursued while governor in 82 BC, as compared to harsher earlier governors.Philip Spann, ''Quintus Sertorius and the Legacy of Sulla'', p. 54.

The Lusitani had a long history of resistance to Rome.Spann, ''Quintus Sertorius'', pp. 58–9. Some historians have concluded that the Lusitani were seeking independence and by taking over the leadership of the movement Sertorius was opposing Rome itself.H. Berve, "Sertorius", ''Hermes'' 64 (1929) p. 221. Philip Spann considers this unlikely, as for Sertorius to accept such a treasonable offer would be to destroy any hope of returning to Rome. More likely the offer grew out of an acceptance by the Lusitani that they would not be able to defeat Rome and that their best hope was to assist the establishment in Rome of a regime sympathetic to them.Spann, ''Quintus Sertorius'', pp. 59–60. Spann suggests that a major reason for Sertorius' acceptance was that it was becoming clearer that there would be no amnesty for him and his followers nor reconciliation with the regime set up by Sulla.Spann, ''Quintus Sertorius'', p. 55.

The Lusitani had a long history of resistance to Rome.Spann, ''Quintus Sertorius'', pp. 58–9. Some historians have concluded that the Lusitani were seeking independence, and by taking over the leadership of the movement, Sertorius was opposing Rome itself.H. Berve, "Sertorius", ''Hermes'' 64 (1929) p. 221. Philip Spann considers this unlikely, because were Sertorius to accept such a treasonable offer, it would be to destroy any hope of his return to Rome. More likely, the offer grew out of an acceptance by the Lusitani that they would not be able to defeat Rome and that their best hope was to assist the establishment in Rome of a regime sympathetic to them.Spann, ''Quintus Sertorius'', pp. 59–60. Spann suggests that a major reason for Sertorius' acceptance was that it was becoming clearer that there would be no amnesty for him and his followers nor reconciliation with the regime set up by Sulla.Spann, ''Quintus Sertorius'', p. 55.

In 80 BC Sertorius, after defeating off [[Mellaria]] a small naval force under [[Gaius Aurelius Cotta|Aurelius Cotta]], landed in the [[Iberian Peninsula]] at [[Baelo Claudia|Baelo]], near the [[Pillars of Hercules]] (Gibraltar).Spann, ''Quintus Sertorius'', pp. 56–57. [[Plutarch]]'s account implies that Sertorius first went to Lusitania, organized the tribes and only then returned to the [[Hispania Baetica|Baetis valley]] to defeat a Roman force under Lucius Fufidius (probably the governor of [[Hispania Ulterior]]). Spann suggests that a more probable sequence is that the [[battle of the Baetis River]] occurred during Sertorius' initial march to Lusitania.Spann, ''Quintus Sertorius'', pp. 57–58; Philip Matyszak, ''Sertorius and the Struggle for Spain'', p. 64.

In 80 BC, Sertorius, after defeating off [[Mellaria]] a small naval force under [[Gaius Aurelius Cotta|Aurelius Cotta]], landed in the [[Iberian Peninsula]] at [[Baelo Claudia|Baelo]], near the [[Pillars of Hercules]] (Gibraltar).Spann, ''Quintus Sertorius'', pp. 56–57. [[Plutarch]]'s account implies that Sertorius first went to Lusitania, where he organized the tribes and only then returned to the [[Hispania Baetica|Baetis valley]] to defeat a Roman force under Lucius Fufidius (probably the governor of [[Hispania Ulterior]]). Spann suggests that a more probable sequence is that the [[battle of the Baetis River]] occurred during Sertorius' initial march to Lusitania.Spann, ''Quintus Sertorius'', pp. 57–58; Philip Matyszak, ''Sertorius and the Struggle for Spain'', p. 64.

==Events of 80–77 BC==

==Events of 80–77 BC==