Sucro (75 BC)

Gnaeus Pompey had regained his confidence after his victory at Valentia, and now moved quickly to engage Quintus Sertorius before Quintus Caecilius Metellus could arrive with his reinforcing army and share in the honor of victory. Sertorius was equally eager …

-75

305

Gnaeus Pompey had regained his confidence after his victory at Valentia, and now moved quickly to engage Quintus Sertorius before Quintus Caecilius Metellus could arrive with his reinforcing army and share in the honor of victory. Sertorius was equally eager to fight before Metellus’ arrival would tip the odds in Pompey’s favor. As the battle commenced, Sertorius at first deployed opposite Afranius, holding him in check until he received word that his left (under the vain, but mediocre Perpenna) was giving way before Pompey’s onslaught. Sertorius then drove Afranius back and wheeled to the assistance of his left wing. Pompey’s forces, advancing in apparent victory, were struck in the flank and swept off the field in disorder. Pompey only managed to escape by abandoning his horse and sneaking away on foot. During the night, his badly beaten army was bolstered by Metellus’ arrival. The opposing armies deployed again for battle the next day, but Sertorius, seeing numbers were now against him, withdrew his weakened but victorious army to his mountain strongholds to fight another day. Sertorius remained undefeated. He negotiated alliances with the Cilician pirates, Mithradates VI of Pontus, and Spartacus in Italy, creating a serious crisis for Rome. However, all of Sertorius’ successes were undone by the petty jealousy of Perpenna and a small group of Roman exiles, who assassinated the great general at a banquet. Once Sertorius had been killed in 72 BC, Pompey and Metellus quickly mopped up the leaderless rebellion. Pompey would next race back to Italy to join with Crassus in the final campaign against Spartacus.

Valentia, Spain

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 town bearing the same name. It ended indecisively: with Sertorius winning a tactical victory but having to withdraw because Pompey's colleague Metellus and his army were approaching.

Wikipedia: Battle of Sucro

Sertorian

Roman

Sertorian War