Quintus Sertorius

Also known as: Sertorius · First appears: Sertorius

Sertorius’s father died when he was young, and he was carefully educated by his mother, Rhea, whom he “extremely loved and honored.” He first served under Caepio during the invasion of Gaul by the Cimbri and Teutones, then returned to Caius Marius, who rewarded his valor and advanced him to positions of honor and trust. Sertorius joined Cinna’s party, openly opposed the immediate reception of Caius Marius, and, after losing a tribuneship through opposition from Sylla’s party, became his enemy.

Sent into Spain with a thousand men under Didius, Sertorius later commanded his own forces and strengthened the passes of the Pyrenees through Julius Salinator. Caius Annius found Julius Salinator unassailable, while Sertorius defeated Ascalis in Mauritania, overthrew Cotta in a sea-fight, routed Fufidius, and overcame forces led by Lucius Domitius, Thoranius, Aquinus, and Paccianus. Against Metellus, he refused battle yet gained the advantages of victory; when Pompey crossed the Pyrenees, Sertorius met his military skill and “was found to have the better.”

During the war, Mithridates sent ambassadors with promises of ships and money, and Sertorius sent Marcus Marius, a Roman senator who had followed him, as general into Asia. A countryman named Spanus brought him a young hind, which Sertorius accepted, while after hearing of a giant’s tomb associated with Antaeus, he had it opened, offered sacrifice, and covered it again. In the end, Perpenna Vento and others were persuaded to seek his destruction secretly; amid the fighting, Memmius was slain, and Antonius, who was next to Sertorius, wounded him with his sword.