Sertorius

Family: Roman · Role: general · First appears: Lucullus

Life events

• Sertorius became quaestor of Cisalpine Gaul and was ordered to raise soldiers and provide arms.(Sertorius · 📍 Rome)
  • “and as soon as he returned to Rome he was appointed quaestor of Cisalpine Gaul, at a very seasonable moment for his country, the Marsian war being on the point of breaking out.”
• Sertorius lost his bid for tribune after opposition from Sylla’s party.(Sertorius)
  • With: Sylla
  • “Yet, notwithstanding this popularity, when he stood to be tribune of the people, he was disappointed, and lost the place, being opposed by the party of Sylla”
• Sertorius abandoned Rome, seized Spain, and established refuge for his supporters.(Sertorius · 📍 Spain)
  • “at last he utterly despaired of Rome, and hasted into Spain, that by taking possession there beforehand, he might secure refuge to his friends, from their misfortunes at home.”
• Sertorius defeated Ascalis, killed Paccianus, captured his forces, and took Tingis.(Sertorius · 📍 Tingis)
  • With: Ascalis Paccianus Sylla
  • “His arrival in Mauritania being very acceptable to the Moors, he lost no time, but immediately giving battle to Ascalis, beat him out of the field and besieged him; and Paccianus being sent by Sylla, with a powerful supply, to raise the siege, Sertorius slew him in the field, gained over all his forces, and took the city of Tingis”
• The Lusitanians made Sertorius their absolute-authority general, and he brought neighboring Spain under subjection.(Sertorius · 📍 Lusitania)
  • “The Lusitanians having sent for Sertorius, he left Africa, and being made general with absolute authority, he put all in order amongst them, and brought the neighboring parts of Spain under subjection.”
• Sertorius and Mithridates concluded a league exchanging military aid, money, ships, and territorial concessions.(Sertorius · 📍 Spain)
  • With: Mithridates
  • “However, they solemnly, upon oath, concluded a league between them, upon these terms: that Mithridates should enjoy the free possession of Cappadocia and Bithynia, and that Sertorius should send him soldiers, and a general for his army, in recompense of which the king was to supply him with three thousand talents and forty ships.”
• Perpenna’s conspiracy culminated in Antonius stabbing Sertorius, who died under repeated blows.(Sertorius)
  • With: Perpenna Antonius
  • “and Antonius, who was next to Sertorius, immediately wounded him with his sword. And whilst Sertorius, upon receiving the wound, turned himself, and strove to get up, Antonius threw himself upon his breast, and held both his hands, so that he died by a number of blows, without being able even to defend himself.”
• Sertorius was advanced to the dignity of a general after earning esteem through earlier services.(Comparison of Sertorius with Eumenes)
  • “Sertorius, being already in high esteem for his former services in the wars, and his abilities in the senate, was advanced to the dignity of a general”
• Sertorius was secretly conspired against by companions and killed.(Comparison of Sertorius with Eumenes)
  • “late in life and secretly a few of his acquaintance entered into a conspiracy against him.”
• Sertorius was killed by his companions, though enemies had failed to defeat him.(Comparison of Sertorius with Eumenes)
  • “The death of Sertorius dishonored not his life; he suffered that from his companions which none of his enemies were ever able to perform.”

Lucullus

• enemies with Pompey “the success of Pompey in Spain”
• with Caius Marius (interaction) “Marius, whom Sertorius had sent out of Spain to Mithridates with forces under him”

Comparison of Sertorius with Eumenes

• with Eumenes (They are presented as parallel commanders whose lives are being compared.) “In comparing their lives, we may observe that this was common to them both; that being aliens, strangers, and banished men, they came to be commanders of powerful forces, and had the leading of numerous and warlike armies, made up of divers nations.”

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Extracted from the original text of Plutarch's Lives. Made with Rho MD.