Sertorius, Quintus

Sertorius, Quintus (sûrtôr`ēas), d. 72 B.C., Roman general. He was a general under Marius but did not take part in Marius' proscriptions. Sertorius was appointed governor of Farther Spain in 83 B.C. but fled to Africa to escape the reprisals of Sulla. He later was summoned (80 B.C.) to Spain by the Lusitani, who were in rebellion. He was successful even after Metellus Pius and Pompey were sent out with new armies, but he was assassinated by Perperna, a disaffected officer. Sertorius had attempted to build a stronger national feeling among the local leaders by founding a senate and a school for their sons. He thus expanded the work of Viriatus. The identification of Sertorius with local interests led, long after, to a mistaken glorification of him as a Portuguese patriot.

---

Sertorius, Quintus

(born c. 126, Nursia, Sabini—died 73 BC) Roman statesman and military commander. He commanded an army in the Social War, and he helped Marius take Rome (87–86) in his struggle against Sulla. As praetor in 83 he was sent to Spain; he fled to Mauretania when Sulla pursued him but later overthrew Sulla's governor in Farther Spain and by 77 was ruler of most of Spain. When Pompey the Great and Metellus Pius finally arrived to put down the rebellion, he skillfully kept them at bay until the tide turned in his favour. When troop morale sank, he was murdered by a conspiracy of officers.

---

Sertorius, Quintus 

Born circa 122 B.C.; died 72 B.C. Roman military commander.

Sertorius fought in the wars against the Cimbri in 105 and the Teutoni in 102 and served as a legate during the Social War (90–88). He supported Marius and Cinna in their struggle against Sulla during the civil wars of 88–82. From 83 to 81 he was Praetor of Hispania Citerior. He made Spain a center of anti-Sullan opposition and, beginning in 81, led a struggle of Iberian tribes against Rome. With the support of the Iberian aristocracy, he united almost all of Spain under his authority and inflicted a series of major defeats on the Roman generals Metel-lus and Pompey the Great. He fought in significant battles at Lauro in 76 and at Saguntum and on the Suero River in 75. Sertorius was murdered as a result of a conspiracy organized by associates who sought reconciliation with Rome.