L. Hirtuleius
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Lucius Hirtuleius was a
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of
Quintus Sertorius Quintus Sertorius ( – 73 or 72 BC) was a Roman general and statesman who led a large-scale rebellion against the Roman Senate on the Iberian Peninsula. Defying the regime of Sulla, Sertorius became the independent ruler of Hispania for m ...
during the
Sertorian War The Sertorian War was a civil war in the Roman Republic fought from 80 to 72 BC between two Roman factions, one led by Quintus Sertorius and another led by the senate as constituted in the aftermath of Sulla's civil war. The war was fough ...
, in which he fought from 80 BC until his death in 75 BC. After the death of Julius Salinator, he was considered Sertorius's most trusted lieutenant, his second-in-command, and was often given independent commands. During the war he defeated the Roman governors Marcus Domitius Calvinus and Lucius Manlius.


Biography

Not much is known of Hirtuleius's early life and career. He shows up in historical records on the staff of
Quintus Sertorius Quintus Sertorius ( – 73 or 72 BC) was a Roman general and statesman who led a large-scale rebellion against the Roman Senate on the Iberian Peninsula. Defying the regime of Sulla, Sertorius became the independent ruler of Hispania for m ...
during the latter's propraetorship of the Iberian peninsula. In 82 BC, during Rome's
civil war A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...
, Sertorius one of the more prominent leaders of the Cinna- Marius faction and those loyal to him, were sent to the Iberian peninsula to establish their faction's rule there. They were driven from the peninsula in 81 BC, but were able to return in 80 BC starting what would become known as the Sertorian War. Hirtuleius was a member of Sertorius's entourage, and helped him establish an independent state in Hispania.Spann, ''Quintus Sertorius and the Legacy of Sulla'', p. 72. He was technically Sertorius' quaestor (though his term of office had long expired).Philip Matsyzak, ''Sertorius and the Struggle for Spain,'' p. 66


The Sertorian War

Hirtuleius became Sertorius's most trusted lieutenant during what was to become the war on the Iberian peninsula. In 80 BC, while Sertorius was consolidating his power in Hispania Ulterior, Hirtuleius was sent against Marcus Domitius Calvinus, the governor of
Hispania Citerior Hispania Citerior (English: "Hither Iberia", or "Nearer Iberia") was a Roman province in Hispania during the Roman Republic. It was on the eastern coast of Iberia down to the town of Cartago Nova, today's Cartagena in the autonomous community of ...
, and it was late in the year when Domitius arrived in Ulterior. The following year, Domitius marched south and Hirtuleius resorted to guerrilla warfare, falling back before the enemy and using ambuscades and raids to wear them down. Possibly while combatting Domitius, Hirtuleius dug a ditch in a steep valley and set wooden ramparts in it, which he then set on fire, enabling his escape. Such tactics likely demoralized Domitius' army; eventually, Hirtuleius met Domitius and defeated him at Consabura on the banks of the river Anas. Domitius was slain in the defeat, which helped the Sertorians consolidate their control of Hispania Ulterior. Sometime later, Hirtuleius besieged the city of Consabura. The inhabitants of Consabura did not yield to Hirtuleius, and he was forced to give up his siege sometime later. In 78 BC, the new governor of Hispania Citerior, Quintus Calidius, showed so little interest in defending the province, that Lucius Manlius, the propraetor of
Gallia Transalpina Gallia Narbonensis (Latin for "Gaul of Narbonne", from its chief settlement) was a Roman province located in Occitania and Provence, in Southern France. It was also known as Provincia Nostra ("Our Province"), because it was the first Ro ...
, was called on to intervene by
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius ( – 63 BC) was a general and statesman of the Roman Republic. His father Quintus Caecilius Metellus Numidicus, Metellus Numidicus was banished from Rome through the machinations of Gaius Marius. He, because ...
(who was leading the Senatorial armies against Sertorius), only to be defeated by Hirtuleius at
Ilerda ''Heliophorus'' is a genus of lycaenid butterflies Butterflies are winged insects from the lepidopteran superfamily Papilionoidea, characterized by large, often brightly coloured wings that often fold together when at rest, and a co ...
. Hirtuleius, in this engagement, outnumbered Manlius, who possessed 3 legions and 1,500 cavalry. Manlius then retreated, but Hirtuleius apparently pursued and besieged him at Ilerda before he eventually escaped across the
Pyrenees The Pyrenees are a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. They extend nearly from their union with the Cantabrian Mountains to Cap de Creus on the Mediterranean coast, reaching a maximum elevation of at the peak of Aneto. ...
. In 76 BC the Senate sent massive reinforcements under the general
Gnaeus Pompey Magnus Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (; 29 September 106 BC – 28 September 48 BC), known in English as Pompey ( ) or Pompey the Great, was a Roman general and statesman who was prominent in the last decades of the Roman Republic. A ...
to aid Metellus. When Pompey arrived in Iberia he was outgeneraled and defeated by Sertorius at the
Battle of Lauron The Battle of Lauron (also known as the Battle of Lauro, not to be confused for the Battle of Lauro of 45 BC) was fought in 76 BC by a rebel force under the command of the renegade Roman general Quintus Sertorius and an army of Roman Republic u ...
. Hirtuleius was left in command of the army facing Metellus at this time, but other sources suggest he may have led the Iberians sent by Sertorius who had successfully ravaged one of Pompey's legions. Sertorius gave orders to Hirtuleius not to engage Metellus in a
pitched battle A pitched battle or set-piece battle is a battle in which opposing forces each anticipate the setting of the battle, and each chooses to commit to it. Either side may have the option to disengage before the battle starts or shortly thereafter. A ...
, as Sertorius believed he could not match Metellus.Livy, ''History of Rome,'' Book 91 The next year Sertorius left Pompey, who had remained in Hispania Citerior with the remnants of his army, to two of his legates, Marcus Perpenna and Gaius Herennius, while he himself campaigned against Metellus in Hispania Ulterior, probably rejoining Hirtuleius. Unfortunately for Sertorius, Perpenna and Herennius were outmaneuvered by Pompey and defeated at the Battle of Valentia; he was now rapidly marching south. Sertorius now raced to Hispania Citerior and took over the command against Pompey, leaving Hirtuleius in command of the army facing Metellus.


The Battle of Italica

Hirtuleius tried to defeat his opponent in a battle near the Roman colony of
Italica Italica () was an ancient Ancient Rome, Roman city in Hispania; its site is close to the town of Santiponce in the province of Seville, Spain. It was founded in 206 BC by Roman general Scipio Africanus, Scipio as a ''Colonia (Roman), colonia'' f ...
. His reasons for doing so are unclear, given Sertorius' orders not to engage Metellus: it is possible he was provoked by Metellus' "luxurious mode of life" or, less probably, Metellus was attempting to pursue Sertorius and Hirtuleius felt compelled, or followed orders, to stop him. At dawn Hirtuleius mustered his army and marched on Metellus's encampment trying to provoke his opponent into battle. Metellus, however, kept his troops in his camp behind their entrenchments until noon. It was extremely hot and Hirtuleius's troops were soon sweltering out in the open while Metellus's legionaries remained relatively fresh. Since his enemy remained drawn up in front of his camp for hours, Metellus had plenty of time to study their dispositions and make his own plans accordingly. He observed that Hirtuleius had posted his strongest units in the centre of his battle line and decided to use this to his advantage. When the battle finally commenced Metellus held back his own centre and concentrated on winning on the flanks. After routing their opponents his wings enveloped Hirtuleius centre. Hirtuleius lost 20,000 men and fled north to join his commander Sertorius who was squaring off against Pompey in the
Battle of Sucro The Battle of Sucro was fought in 75 BC between a rebel army under the command of the Roman rebel Quintus Sertorius and a Roman army under the command of the Roman general Pompey. The battle was fought on the banks of the river Sucro near a tow ...
. Metellus followed Hirtuleius wanting to make the most of his victory by trapping Sertorius between Pompey and himself.


The Battle of Saguntum

Several weeks later Hirtuleius faced Metellus again, commanding one of Sertorius's wings at the
Battle of Saguntum The Battle of Saguntum (25 October 1811) saw the Imperial French Army of Aragon under Marshal Louis Gabriel Suchet fighting a Spanish army led by Captain General Joaquín Blake. The Spanish attempt to raise the siege of the Sagunto Castle ...
. During the battle Hirtuleius's wing was pushed back by Metellus's legions, he died in the fighting. When Sertorius learned of Hirtuleius' death from a native, he stabbed the native with a dagger so as to keep the news from breaking the spirit of his men.Frontinus, ''Strategems,'' Book 2, 7.5


See also

* Hirtuleia gens * Battle of Italica *
Battle of Saguntum (75 BC) The Battle of Saguntum was fought in 75 BC between forces of the Roman Republic under the command of Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus and Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius and an army of Sertorian rebels under the command of Quintus Sertorius. The location o ...


Notes and References

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Bibliography

* Howard H. Scullard, ''From the Gracchi to Nero: A History of Rome from 133 B.C. to A.D. 68'', Psychology Press (1982). * Philip O. Spann, ''Quintus Sertorius and the Legacy of Sulla'', University of Arkansas Press (1987). * Philip Matyszak, Sertorius and the Struggle for Spain, Pen & Sword Books Ltd (2013). 1st-century BC Romans Ancient Roman exiles Ancient Roman generals Ancient Romans killed in action People of the Sertorian War