The general history of Spain from the first peopling of it by Tubal, till the death of King Ferdinand, who united the crowns of Castile and Aragon : with a continuation to the death of King Philip III / written in Spanish by the R.F.F. John de Mariana ; to which are added, two supplements, the first by F. Ferdinand Camargo y Salcedo, the other by F. Basil Varen de Soto, bringing it down to the present reign ; the whole translated from the Spanish by Capt. John Stevens.

CHAP. II. Viriatus his Original and actions against the Romans. The Government of several Roman Generals, and among them of Metellus and Pompey, and Death of Viriatus.

THIS cruelty of Galba instead of Terrifying, so far incensed the People against the Romans, that it occasion'd the War of Viriatus, which lasted Fourteen Years, during * 1.1 which time the Romans sustain'd many and very great losses. Viriatus was a Native Lusitania, of mean Parentage, as being in his youth a Shepheard. Leaving that course of Life he fell to Robbing, and having by degrees got together a good number of Men, made excursions into the Neighbouring Country Subject to the Romans, about the mouth of the River Guadiana. Marcus Vitellius, succeeded Galba, in his Command the Year of Rome 604. His first care was in time to suppress Viriatus, who leaving Lusitania pass'd the Streight of Cadiz, and kept himself in the fastnesses resolving not to come to a Battle. On the other side the Pretor, ha∣ving beset those Places, so streightned the Mutiniers, that they began underhand to Treat of submitting. Vitellius willingly gave ear to them, but Viriatus understanding what was in hand, disswaded his Men, and having brought them to his beck, drew out as if he intended to fight. He plac'd his Cavalry in the front, while the Foot stole away thro' the Woods, and

then they all made to Tribola, a City where Viriatus hoped to make good his ground, and protract the War. The Romans pursuing, near the City he laid an Ambush, where 4000 of them were killed together with the Pretor, the rest fled to Tarifa, whence offering again * 1.2 to hazard a Battle, with the assistance of the Celtiberi, they were all cut off. In the Year 605. Caius Plaucius succeeded Vitellius, as Pretor of Hispania ulterior. At the time of his coming, Viriatus ravag'd the Lands of the Turdetani, and Carpetani. As soon as the Romans came in sight, he made show of flying, and they pursuing him without order, he fac'd, and cut * 1.3 off 4000 of the foremost. The Pretor rather mov'd by desire of Revenge, than any hope of * 1.4 Victory, still follow'd the Enemy, as far as the Mountain of Venus, whither Viriatus after passing the River Tagus, was retir'd. Here again they engag'd, and no less number of the Romans was slain than before, which so terrifi'd the Pretor, that tho' it was the midst of Sum∣mer, he shut himself up within the strong Towns, as if it had been in the dead of Winter. This Battle, is by some believ'd, to have been fought in Lusitania, near the City Ebora, by reason of a Tomb preserv'd there to this Day, with a Latin Inscription, to this effect. I Lucius Silo Sabinus, being struck thro' with many Darts and Arrows, in the War against Viria∣tus, * 1.5 in the Territory of Ebora, in the Province of Lusitania, and carry'd off upon the Soldiers shoul∣ders, ordered Caius Plaucius the Pretor, to build this Tomb, at my cost, and therein, would I have no other laid, whether Free, or a Slave. If the contrary should happen, I desire the Bones of any o∣ther to be taken out of my Tomb, if my Country be free. This is the ancientest Roman Inscripti∣on to be found in Spain. Mean while, Galba was Impeach'd at Rome, for his Perfidiousness towards the Lusitanians, and being the cause of all the Misfortunes that had befallen the Ro∣mans upon that account; but the great Riches he had gather'd in that Province, brought * 1.6 him off, tho' Cato, and Scribonius the Tribune, accus'd him. After this, in the Year 606. * 1.7 Claudius Ʋnimdnus was sent from Rome, to the War against Viriatus, and was by him Van∣quish'd, himself slain, great part of his Army slaughter'd, and the Fasces, which were En∣signs of his Dignity, set up as Trophies on the Mountains of Lusitania. This Battle was fought near the Town of Ʋrique, in Portugal, as appears by a Stone there, which is one of the most notable Roman Monuments in Spain; and Andrew Requesendius in his Antiquities of Por∣tugal, makes mention of it, the Inscription it bears, only supplying the defect of a few Let∣ters, is as follows. I Caius Minucius, Son to Caius Lemonia Lubatus, Tribune of the Legion Decima Gemina, whom the General Claudius Unimanus, left for dead, because senseless with my wounds, being preserv'd by the care of Ebutius, a Lusitanian Soldier, and dress'd, liv'd some days, and di∣ed with sorrow, for not gratifying after the Roman manner, him that had well deserv'd it. The following Year, which was 607. Caius Nigidius Pretor, was sent in stead of him that was * 1.8 kill'd. He fought with Viriatus near the City Viseo, in Lusitania, or Portugal, and with the * 1.9 like Success to the former. After Nigidius, C. Lelius, sirnam'd, the Wise, came into Spain, and was the first that broke the Forces of Viriatus, being a Man that rely'd more on Policy, than open Force, and hereby obtain'd great renown. In the Year 609. Q. Fabius Maxi∣mus Aemilianus, being Consul, came into Spain, and the Senate, there being a scarcity of old Soldiers, made new Levies, and raised 15000 Foot, and 2000 Horse. These Forces landed at Orsuna, supposed to be Ossuna in Andaluzia. Here the Consul kept his Army for some time, the better to Train and Exercise his new Soldiers. He himself in the mean time went * 1.10 to Cadiz, to offer Sacrifice, and make his Vows in the Temple of Hercules. On the other * 1.11 side, Viriatus having Intelligence of the Preparations made by the Romans, resolv'd to meet them. His coming was unexpected, so he surpriz'd, and slew the Roman Foragers, and their Guards. The Consul being return'd from Cadiz, notwithstanding, Viriatus offer'd him Bat∣tle, for some days refus'd it, only Skirmishing, to try his Men, and show them the Enemy was to be overcome. At length, he drew out, and in a pitch'd Battle put Viriatus to flight. Winter then drawing on, the Roman Army march'd to Cordova, where they Winter'd; but Vi∣riatus took up in the Mountains, his Men being more hardy, and inur'd to the cold. Thence he sent to all parts for Succours, but particularly, to the Arevaci, Beli, and Tithii, exhort∣ing them to take up Arms for their own Liberty, and the publick Good. Those People wil∣lingly gave ear to these Propositions, which gave occasion to the second War of Numantia; as shall be related, when we have done with Viriatus. Lucius Hostilius Mancinus was Consul with this Aemilianus, of whom, we have now spoken, and he might be believ'd to have come into Spain, and there to have overcome the People of Galicia, if Credit could be given to the Inscriptions of Anconitanus, which, he brings to this purpose. Others may judge of the Credit that is due to him; but by some learned Men, he is look'd upon, as no better than a meer Inventor of ill contriv'd Fables, and Lyes.

At Rome in the Year 610. the two Consuls Servilius Sulpicius Galba, and L. Aurelius Cotta, * 1.12 contended for the Government of Spain, the Senate could not agree about it; and Scipio being ask'd which of them he thought fittest, answer'd, Neither, for the one has nothing, the other ne∣ver has enough. Hereby shewing, that neither a poor, nor a covetous Man is fit to Govern. Whereupon the Pretor Popilius was sent. To him, Pliny says, Viriatus delivered the Towns that were in his Possession; which, if so, is a sign he was much streightned by him. After * 1.13 Popilius, in the Year 611. the Consul Q. Cecilius Metellus, sirnam'd, Macedonicus, came to Govern Hispania citerior, in order to quiet the Celtiberi, who, at the Instigation of Viriatus, were raising Commotions. There is an Account of one Quintius, who prosecuted the War against * 1.14

Viriatus, but whether as Pretor, or by Commission from the Consul, does not appear. Cer∣tain * 1.15 it is, that this Quintius, at the foot of Mount Venus, near Ebora, in Portugal, gave Viri∣atus a great Overthrow; but he gathering his Forces, returned upon him with such Vigour, that the Victors having receiv'd much damage, tho' it was the middle of Autumn, were glad to retire to Cordova, as if it had been Winter, where they Fortified themselves, without ta∣king any care of the Spaniards their Confederates, or the other Romans, who were in weak Gar∣risons, and left exposed to eminent Danger. Metellus subdu'd the Celtiberi. Pliny says he overcame the Arevaci; nevertheless, he was continued in his Command the Year 612. and the Consul Q. Fabius Servilius, was sent against Viriatus with 18000 Foot, and 1500 Horse. Besides those Forces Micipsa the Son of Massinissa sent him 10 Elephants, and 300 Horse out of Africk. Notwithstanding all this mighty Army joyn'd to what was before under the Ro∣man Pay, Viriatus who lay hid in the Mountains of Andaluzia, with frequent Excursions did * 1.16 great Damage, and obtain'd many Advantages, till the Romans remov'd their Camp to Ʋtica, * 1.17 formerly a City of Andaluzia. Then Viriatus for want of Provisions, retir'd with his Army into Lusitania. The Consul being rid of that danger, marched to the Cunei, where he over∣came two Captains of Robbers, call'd Curio, and Apuleyus, and carried some Towns by Force that were held for Viriatus, with strong Garrisons. A great Booty was taken, and a multitude of Prisoners, 500 whereof, that were found most Guilty, he put to Death, 10000 more were sold as Slaves. Metellus at the same time gain'd much Honour by entirely redu∣cing the Celtiberi, and taking the famous Cities Contrebia, Versobriga, and Centobriga. Then hearing that the Consul Quintus Pompeius was appointed to succeed him, he was so offended at it, that to weaken his Forces, he dismissed the Soldiers, neglected the Magazines, and star∣ved the Elephants; for which reason, the Triumph he had otherwise well deserv'd, was re∣fus'd him at Rome. Q. Pompeius came to Spain in the Year 613. Servilianus was continu'd by order of the Senate, in his Command, where he receiv'd into favour Canoba, a Captain of * 1.18 Robbers, who submitted himself, and forced Viriatus, who lay before the City Vacia, to raise * 1.19 his Siege, and fly away; whereupon many neighbouring Towns submitted themselves to him. As he was Active and Vigilant, so was he no less Severe, or rather Cruel; for he cut off the Hands of all Canoba's Men, and 500 other Prisoners, because they had deserted from his Camp. This Action in stead of terrifying the Natives, put them upon desperate Counsels. The Romans laid Siege to the City Erisana, Viriatus without being discovered, got in by Night, and the next Morning made such a furious Sally, that he put the Enemy to flight, killing ma∣ny of them; those that escaped, drew up in a place of no Strength, where they were in great * 1.20 danger of perishing; but Viriatus laid hold of this Opportunity to obtain an advantageous Peace, which was concluded, and by virtue thereof, the Romans sav'd their Lives; Viriatus was called a Friend of the People of Rome, and all that his Men had plunder'd, was allow'd them. A great shame and dishonour to the Majesty of the Roman Empire.

Quintus Pompeius held the Government of Hispania citerior two Years; but because the Pro∣vince was in Peace, and Metellus had left all things in disorder, had not the opportunity of doing any Action of note. On the contrary, Servilius, who by order of the Senate had va∣cated the Peace he made before, near the City Arsa put Viriatus to the rout, and pursu'd him * 1.21 into Carpetania, where, by a Stratagem, he got away. He drew out his Men, as if intend∣ing to give Battle, placing his Horse in the Front, and whilst the Romans were forming their Body, caused his Foot to slip away thro' the Woods that were near; that done, the Horse with the same swiftness, got off. The Consul despairing of taking so subtle an Enemy, march∣ed to the Vectones in Estremadura, and thence without stopping, into Galicia, where all was in Disorder, and full of Murders and Robberies. Viriatus tired with so lasting a War, and fearing his Men should make their Peace with the price of his Head, sent three Embassadors to Treat with the Consul. The means he chose to secure himself, prov'd his ruin; for Ser∣vilius corrupted the Embassadors, who, at their return, murder'd Viriatus as he lay sleeping. His Funeral was honour'd with the Tears of his Soldiers, afterwards with Sports, and the * 1.22 Sacrifice of much Cattle. The Murderers petitioning the Senate at Rome for a Reward of their Service, receiv'd answer, That the Senate and People of Rome, did not approve of Soldiers killing their General. To Viriatus, succeeded in the Command, one Tantalus; but he not being of equal Authority, Valour, and Conduct, soon submitted himself to the Consul, and was receiv'd to Grace. These, and the other Lusitani were disarm'd, and Lands allotted them, to the end, that being employ'd in Tilling, and the care of their Cattle, they might, be more inclinable to live in subjection, and want the Power of Revolting.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Viriatus's Original and Rise.
• * 1.2

  Vitellius's Army routed and he slain.
• * 1.3

  605.
• * 1.4

  C. Plaucius twice De∣feated by Viriatus.
• * 1.5

  An anci∣ent Inscri∣ption.
• * 1.6

  606.
• * 1.7

  Cl. Ʋni∣manus van∣quished, and killed by him.
• * 1.8

  607.
• * 1.9

  C. Nigidi∣us treated in the same manner. C. Lelius successful against Viriatus.
• * 1.10

  609.
• * 1.11

  Fab. Ma∣ximus over∣throws him.
• * 1.12

  610.
• * 1.13

  Popilius the Pretor sent into Spain.
• * 1.14

  611.
• * 1.15

  Viriatus's further Actions. Quincius defeats, and is a∣gain worsted by him. Metellus subdues the Celti∣beri.
• * 1.16

  612.
• * 1.17

  Q. Fabius Servilius the Consul streight∣ens Viria∣tus.
• * 1.18

  613.
• * 1.19

  Pompey in Spain.
• * 1.20

  Viriatus defeats the Ro∣mans; & makes Peace with 'em.
• * 1.21

  Servilius breaks the Peace, and routs Viriatus.
• * 1.22

  The Death of Viriatus.