Lucius Hirtuleius was a

legate Legate may refer to: *Legatus, a higher ranking general officer of the Roman army drawn from among the senatorial class :*Legatus Augusti pro praetore, a provincial governor in the Roman Imperial period *A member of a legation *A representative, ...

Quintus Sertorius Quintus Sertorius (c. 126 – 73 BC) was a Roman general and statesman who led a large-scale rebellion against the Roman Senate on the Iberian peninsula. He had been a prominent member of the populist faction of Cinna and Marius. During the l ...

during the

Sertorian War The Sertorian War was a civil war fought from 80 to 72 BC between a faction of Roman rebels ( Sertorians) and the government in Rome (Sullans). The war was fought on the Iberian Peninsula (called ''Hispania'' by the Romans) and was one of the ...

, in which he fought from 80 BC until his death in 75 BC. He is 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

during the latter's propraetorship of the Iberian peninsula. In 82 BC, during Rome's

civil war A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same 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 ...

, 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 Spain 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.

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. Hirtuleius resorted to guerrilla warfare, falling back before the enemy and using ambuscades and raids to wear them down, eventually, he defeated Calvinus at Consubura on the banks of the

Anas ''Anas'' is a genus of dabbling ducks. It includes the pintails, most teals, and the mallard and its close relatives. It formerly included additional species but following the publication of a molecular phylogenetic study in 2009 the genus was s ...

. 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 what is now Languedoc and Provence, in Southern France. It was also known as Provincia Nostra ("Our Province"), because it was the ...

, was called on to intervene, only to be defeated by Hirtuleius at Ilerda. 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 leading Roman Republic, Roman general and statesman. He played a significant role in the tr ...

to aid

Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius (c. 128 – 63 BC) was a Roman politician and general. Like the other members of the influential Caecilii Metelli family, he was a leader of the Optimates, the conservative faction opposed to the Populares during ...

, the commander in charge of the war against Sertorius. 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 ...

. The next year Sertorius left Pompey, who had remained in Hispania Citerior with the remnants of his army, to two of his legates, Perpenna and Herennius, while he himself campaigned against Metellus in Hispania Ulterior. Unfortunately for Sertorius, Perpenna and Herrenius were defeated by Pompey at Valentia. Sertorius now raced to Hispania Citerior and took over the command against Pompey. He left 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 ( es, Itálica) was a Roman town founded by Italic settlers in Hispania; its site is close to the town of Santiponce, part of the province of Seville in modern-day Spain. It was founded in 206 BC by Roman general Scipio as a settleme ...

. 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. 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 First French Empire, Imperial French Army of Aragon under Marshal of the Empire, Marshal Louis Gabriel Suchet fighting a Spain, Spanish army led by Captain General Joaquín Blake. The Spanish a ...

. During the battle Hirtuleius's wing was pushed back by Metellus's legions, he died in the fighting.Spann, ''Quintus Sertorius and the Legacy of Sulla'' p. 110.

Notes and References

{{Reflist

Bibliography