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. IV. Other Occurrences in Spain after the War of Numantia. The beginning of the War of Sertorius. His Actions, Defeat, and Death.

THE War of Numantia thus happily concluded, there ensued a lasting Peace, and Tran∣quility * 1.1 in Spain. For some time after, it was Governed by ten Legates; every one of which, had his particular Province. The Mallorquins were become Pirates, and committed Rapine all along the neighbouring Coasts. The Consul Q. Cecilius Metellus, subdued them in the Year 631. And thereby, gained the Sirname of Balearicus. Caius Marius, who at the * 1.2

same time governed Hispania Ʋlterior, mended and cleared the Roads, then much infested by Robbers. He also put the Laws in Execution, and supported the Authority of the Judges. Twelve Years after, that Province revolting, Calpurnius Piso first, and then Sulpicius Galba ap∣peased those Commotions. Much Coin is often found in Spain with the Name of Piso stampt * 1.3 upon it. Peace being restored by the Conduct of Piso, and Galba, the Government was again * 1.4 committed to ten Legats, at the time that the Cimbri, a Northern People, like an impetuous Torrent, having spread themselves thro' many Provinces of the Roman Empire, passed over into Spain. Here by the Valour of the Romans, and Natives, they were obliged to turn back again into France, and Italy, in the Year 645. This same Year, Q. Servilius Cepio, gave the Lusitani a great Overthrow; in what quality he commanded, does not appear; but certain it * 1.5 is, that three Years after, the same Cepio being Consul, the Lusitani were revenged of the Romans, giving them a greater Defeat than that they had received. Two Years after this, being 650. after the Building of Rome, the Cimbri, mixed with the Germans, broke into Spain a second time, and were again Repulsed by the Celtiberi, and drove back into France, Lucius * 1.6 * 1.7 Cornelius Dolabella being Proconsul in that Province, quieted the Lusitani, in the Year 655. No sooner was that Province appeased, but the following Year another War broke out among the Celtiberi, the Consul Titus Didius was sent to command there. The Armies met, and came to a Battle, which lasted the whole Day, till Night parted them, without deciding the Suc∣cess, the loss being equal on both sides. The Consul made use of Policy, and caused all his * 1.8 own Dead to be taken up, and buryed by Night. Next Day the Spaniards imagining all the * 1.9 loss had fallen on their side, despairing of Success, submitted themselves upon such Conditi∣ons as the Romans would impose. In that War 20000 of the Arevaci are said to have been slain; a great number, if Authors mistake not. Because the Termestini often revolted, con∣fiding in the strength of their City, it was ordered to be destroyed, and laid level with the Ground, and the Inhabitants to come down into the Plain, and live in Villages, without pre∣suming to Fortifie them. An entire Company of Robbers submitted themselves, and upon * 1.10 promise of Pardon, delivered themselves up to the Consul, with their Wives, Children and Goods, all whom, nevertheless, he put to the Sword. A base Action, yet it seems not much disapproved of at Rome, since for his other Actions they allowed Didius to Triumph. Quin∣tus Sertorius served in this War as a Tribune, or Colonel, and gained great honour, by saving the Romans that were in Garrison at Castulon, from being all murdered, as was agreed be∣twixt those Citizens, and the Geriseni, supposed to be the People of Jaen. Sertorius hearing the uproar, for they had began to put their Design in execution, ran out, and gathering such as had escaped the slaughter, fell upon the Townsmen, and revenged the Death of those that had been slain. Thence he marched to the Geriseni, who being deceived, by the Cloaths of the People of Castulon, which he had caused his Soldiers to put on, received him with joy, a great number of them were killed, the rest sold as Slaves. All these things happened in Hispania Citerior, during the five Years Government of Didius. For in the Year 657. the Consul Pub∣lius Licinius Crassus came into Hispania Ʋlterior, and in the sixth Year of his command ob∣tained * 1.11 a Triumph at Rome, for the Actions he had performed there. It is thought, there he gathered those Riches which made his Son Marcus Crassus the richest Citizen in Rome. Du∣ring the time that Crassus was in Spain, Fulvius Flaccus by his good conduct, quieted some stirs that happened among the Celtiberi, in the Year 660. At which time, Italy was all in a flame with the Civil Wars kindled by Marius and Cinna, against Sylla, and many of the Nobility * 1.12 were by them put to Death. Marcus Crassus, whose Father and Mother had been put to Death, * 1.13 fled into Spain, where he had many Friends, on account of Favours they had received from his Father; but most Towns being of Marius's Faction, he durst not appear in publick, and therefore hid himself in a Cave, which was in the Land of one Vibius Paciecus, an intimate Friend of his. Who being informed of his coming, lest his going to see him might cause some suspicion, ordered a Slave every day to leave such Provision as he would give him, up∣on a certain Rock, threatning him with Death, if he durst go to see who it was for, or dis∣close the secret. In this manner Crassus lived for some time, till the News was brought, that Marius and Cinna, were overthrown by Sylla. Then coming out of the Cave, by fair means, he drew to his Party, many Cities of Spain, and among them, Malaga, which, nevertheless, was plundered by the Soldiers, against his will, as he pretended, but perhaps, he only coun∣terfeited, and had permitted it to gain the good Will of the Army. The Cave where Cras∣sus lay hid is shown to this day, betwixt Ronda, and Gibraltar, near a Town, called Ximena, in which, 'tis said, are all the marks that Plutarch gives of it.

From those Civil Wars at Rome, sprang another in Spain, which, tho' at first it appear'd inconsiderable, yet for the space of nine Years it withstood, and often foiled the Roman Pow∣er; but at last ended to their satisfaction. Quintus Sertorius was the Man that managed it, * 1.14 he was by Birth an Italian, of mean Parentage, at Narsium, a Town near Rome. His Valour was great, as has before been hinted. In the Civil Wars of Italy, he sided with Marius, lost an Eye, and was by Sylla Proscribed, which is the same as Outlawed. To save his Life, and believing, that in this confusion, every one would keep whatever he could possess himself of, he being well beloved, both by the Soldiers, and Natives, fled into Spain, resolving to make good his Party there. To this intent he secured the Ports, and left one Salinator with a sufficient Force to guard the Passes of the Pyrenean Mountains, whilst he himself went farther

into the Country, raised Men, and gathered store of Arms, and Provisions. All his De∣signs were nipt by Caius Annius, who routed the Guards upon the Pyreneans, and slew Salina∣tor, by means of one Calpurnius Lanarius, his intimate Friend, that basely murdered him. Ser∣torius was so dismayed at this Misfortune, that he fled from Carthagena into Africk, where Fortune being no kinder to him than before, he suffered much, yet passed over, and possessed himself of the Island Iviça. Thence also he was expelled, and designing to fly from his Ene∣mies to the Canary Islands, was called upon by the Lusitani, who being desirous of recover∣ing their lost Liberty, thought this a fit Opportunity. Sertorius readily embraced their offers, and as he was a Man no less versed in the Arts of Peace than War, by his affability and cour∣tesie, soon gained their Affections. For the greater show of Majesty, he erected a Senate of Spaniards like that of Rome, with all the Honours and Dignities belonging to it. He Honour∣ed all Men, but more especially the Romans, as his Country-men, and those he could best con∣fide in. The fame hereof being spread abroad, he not only became Sovereign of Hispania Ʋlterior, but gained the Love of the Citerior; all the Spaniards being persuaded by his means, they might cast off the Roman Yoke. To settle this affection the more, he caused Masters of all Arts and Sciences to come from Italy, and Founded an University at Osca, persuading the * 1.15 chief Men to send their Children thither to Study, upon pretence of Improving them; but in reality, to keep them there as Hostages, without giving Offence to their Parents. As the surest tye, he made use of Religion, feigning, that Diana had given him a Doe, which told him in his Ear all he was to do; and therefore had one bred to hand, that when he stooped, clapp'd her Mouth to his Ear, as if she spoke; by which means, the ignorant Na∣tives were persuaded he knew all that was done abroad, and received Directions from Heaven how to Act. There are Pieces of Coin to be seen in Spain, with the Effigies of Sertorius on the one side, and the Doe on the other; there are also two Stones at Ebora in Portugal, that show Sertorius resided long in that City. Besides, it appears by Pliny, and Ptolomy, that formerly there were two Towns in Spain, that bore the name of Osca, one among the Iler∣getes, betwixt Aragon and Catalonia, and the other in Andaluzia; but which of these was the University, is uncertain, some think it was Huesca in Aragon; but I rather think it was the other Huesca among the Bastetani. At his first coming out of Africk into Lusitania, Sertorius brought over with him 2600 Romans, and 700 Africans; besides these in Spain, he gathered 4000 Foot, and 700 Horse. With this small number, he first vanquished Cota, a Comman∣der of the Enemy, in a Sea Fight near Gibraltar. Afterwards on the Banks of Guadalquivir, he Defeated the Consul Didius, and slew 2000 of his Men. These Successes gained him much Credit among his own people, and struck a Terror into his Enemies.

This moved Sylla, in the Year 674. and his second Consulship, to send Q. Metellus Pius, his Colleague into Spain. With him went the Pretor Lucius Domitius Toranius, who, at the * 1.16 very entrance into Spain, and foot of the Pyrenean Mountains, was slain by Hirtuleyus, one * 1.17 of Sertorius's Commanders, and his Army defeated, which misfortune moved Manilius the Proconsul of Gallia Narbonensis, to pass over into Spain; but he fared not much better than the other, only that he saved his Life, being overthrown, and forced to fly with pre∣cipitation to Lerida, by the same Commander. Metellus with his Army peirced thro' the Country as far as Andaluzia, where he was often worsted by Sertorius, and obliged to Fortifie himself in the strong Towns, trusting rather to their Walls, than his own strength. Yet he adventured to sit down before the City Lacobriga, now Lagos, near Cape St. Vincent, the Forces of Sertorius being at that time divided; but his attempt proved in vain, for Sertorius's Men, encouraged by the Reward he promised, put into the Town 2000 Skins of Water, which was the only thing they wanted, their Conduits being cut off, and a Well they had, not being enough to supply all. The Romans having but five Days Provision, and understanding this Relief was put in, were constrained to raise the Siege. As they drew off, Sertorius kept close in their Rear, cutting off many; for now the Spanish Soldiers were not inferior to the Romans for Discipline, but obeyed Command, and Fought in good Order; besides that, they had armed themselves with the Weapons of the Romans they had slain. Thus the fame of Sertorius was not only spread throughout Spain, but reached into Asia, whence Mithridates, then in War the second time with Rome, sent Embassadors to him, offering Supplies of Mo∣ney, * 1.18 and a Fleet, intending by that means to divide the Forces of the Romans, For the greater Granduer, Sertorius received the Embassadors in the Senate, and agreed to all they had to propose, granting that they should carry along with them, Marcus Marius, with a number of Soldiers to introduce the Roman Discipline among that King's Forces. But Serto∣rius was now streightned by the coming of Lucius Lelius out of France; who joyning with Me∣tellus, so encreased his Forces, that Sertorius durst not give them Battle, which before, he endeavoured, yet made frequent Excursions, and kept them in continual alarm. In this man∣ner, he kept himself for two Years, till Pompey the Great, at the request of Metellus, was * 1.19 sent as his Colleague, to command with equal Power. For his Questor, or Pay-Master came L. Cassius Longinus, of whom, more will be said hereafter. Pompey made haste to joyn Me∣tellus, resolving not to fight the Enemy till all the Forces were come together. Sertorius at this time, lay before the City Laurona, with his own, and the Forces M. Perpenna brought him out of Sardinia after the Death of the Consul Aemilius Lepidus, who having revolted from the Senate, and being therefore driven out of Italy, had possessed himself of that Island,

where he died of Sickness, and therefore, those who had followed him, passed over into Spain. Perpenna thought to have Lorded it himself over that Province, but either because his Soldiers mutinied, or that he considered better of it, he joyned Sertorius. As soon as Pompey and Metellus had joyned their Forces, they marched towards the Enemy, to raise the Siege of Laurona, supposed by some to be the City Liria in the Kingdom of Valencia, four Leagues from the City of that Name, near the River Xucar. Their Design was disappointed, for 10000 Romans, who advanced to guard the Foragers, falling into an Ambush, were all cut off, and with them, Decius Lelius, Pompey's Legate, or Lieutenant. Thus the Besieged ha∣ving lost all hopes of Relief, were forced to surrender, upon Condition their Lives should be spared, and they might carry away their Goods. This being performed, the City was fired, rather in scorn to the Roman Generals, who looked on, than thro' malice Orosius says, Pompey was gone before Laurona was taken; that the Townsmen were either put to the Sword, or sold as Slaves, and the Town plundered. Moreover, it is said, the Roman Army con∣sisted of 30000 Foot, 1000 Horse, whereas, Sertorius had double the number of Foot, and 8000 Horse. Nothing more was done this Year. Metellus and Pompey went to Winter near the Pyrenean Mountains; Sertorius returned to Lusitania, where his greatest strength lay. As soon as the Season would allow it, in the Year 677. both Armies took the Field. The * 1.20 Romans divided their Forces, Pompey took the City Segeda by storm; Metellus fought with * 1.21 Hirtuleyus, Sertorius's General, killed 20000 of his Men, and he himself escaped by flight. Metellus was so proud of this Success, that he wore Embroidery at Feasts, and at his en∣try into any City suffered Incense to be offered to him as a God. Some imagine, that one of the two Bulls at Guisando, that are cut in Stone, was set up in memory of this Victory, be∣cause it has this Inscription in Latin. To Q. Metellus Conqueror, twice Consul. Pompey, after taking Segeda, adventured to give the Enemy Battle, which was very bloody, and he had cer∣tainly been lost, but that Metellus, who was near at hand came in, and rescued him; so the Armies parted with equal loss on both sides, and no visible advantage, as to point of Honour.

After this Battle, Sertorius for some time, was extreamly Melancholy for the loss of his * 1.22 Doe, which, he feared was taken by the Enemy, and he looked upon as an ill Omen; but she on a sudden again appearing, he resumed his usual Mirth, and applyed himself to the care of the War. Another Battle was fought about the same place, near the River Turia, which runs thro' the Country of Valencia, and is now called Guadalaviar. Both Parties fought with great Resolution, but Pompey got the day, and Sertorius's Army was entirely Defeated, Hir∣tuleyus, and his Brother, as also Caius Herennius, were killed. In the heat of this Fight, one of Pompey's Men slew his own Brother, that served on the other side, which, when he found, as he was about stripping of him, it so sensibly touched him, that after sheding many Tears, and laying the dead Body on the Funeral Pile, he fell upon his own Sword. Sertorius was at Ca∣lahorra, gathering new Forces, which, when Pompey understood, he marched to Besiege him in that place; but he broke thro', and escaped, tho' with the loss of 3000 Men; and having got together a mighty Army, offered his Enemy Battle, which he avoided, and marched into Winter Quarters. Metellus beyond the Pyreneans, and Pompey in Old Castile. Sertorius was naturally of a sweet Temper, had not Jealousies altered his good Inclinations, and pre∣vailed with him to slight the Romans, who were disobliged, for that he committed the Guard of his Person to the Celtiberi. Besides, he became Cruel, and killed several of his Friends, and some of those Youths he had sent to Osca to Study, the rest he sold as Slaves; and thus he alienated the Affections of the Natives, which, were his only support. Metellus in the Spring took in several Towns. On the contrary, Pompey was forced by Sertorius to raise the Siege he had laid to Valencia; but having increased his Forces, constrained the Enemy to re∣tire, and pursued him as far as Cape St. Martin, near Denia, formerly, called Prom. Hemero∣scopeum, where there happen'd a Skirmish betwixt them, and nothing else considerable, both Parties being unwilling to come to a Battle, by reason of the smallness of their Forces. In short, the affairs of Sertorius went to decay, till at length all fell to the Ground by his Death. He was killed at Osca, by one Anthony, a Man of note, who stab'd him as they sate together at a Feast. This Design was laid by Perpenna, and tho' in part discovered; for which, some were put to Death, yet that very thing hastned the others to put it in execution. This was the end of Sertorius, by the Spaniards, called the Roman Hannibal. He left no Children, and died in the Year 681. It is supposed, his Body was buried at Ebora, because a Tomb was found in * 1.23 that City, as they were digging the Foundations of St. Lewis's Church, with an Inscription in Latin to that effect; but for this, we have no Authority, but that of Ambrose de Morales, our Spanish Antiquary, besides whom, no Author of Credit mentions any such thing, nor is any such Inscription to be heard of, tho' it was inserted in my Latin History, upon the bare Au∣thority of the aforesaid Morales.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Peace in Spain.
• * 1.2

  631.
• * 1.3

  643.
• * 1.4

  The Cim∣bri enter Spain.
• * 1.5

  645.
• * 1.6

  650.
• * 1.7

  They re∣turn with the Ger∣mans, and are again repulsed.
• * 1.8

  655.
• * 1.9

  A drawn Battle.
• * 1.10

  A barba∣rous Acti∣on of a Roman.
• * 1.11

  657.
• * 1.12

  660.
• * 1.13

  Marius and Cinna.
• * 1.14

  Sertorius's Actions.
• * 1.15

  He founds an Univer∣sity at Osca.
• * 1.16

  674.
• * 1.17

  Metellus sent by Sylla into Spain. Hirtuleyus General for Serto∣rius, twice routs the Romans.
• * 1.18

  Mithrida∣tes sends Embassa∣dors to Sertorius.
• * 1.19

  Pompey the Great comes in∣to Spain.
• * 1.20

  677.
• * 1.21

  Metellus kills 20000 of Sertori∣us's Men.
• * 1.22

  Sertorius's last Ex∣ploits, and Death.
• * 1.23

  681.