4.15-16

Ch. 15: Slave revolt under Pseudo-Perses (142 BCE)

For details, see Livy, Epitome 53.e; Varro, On Agriculture 2.4.1.

Perseī fīlium: Like Pseudo-Philip in Brev. 4.13, this pretender also claimed to be the son of Perseus.

collēctīs servitiīs: ablative absolute that uses perfect passive participle (AG 419)

cum sēdecim mīlia armātōrum habēret: cum here is concessive (AG 549)

sēdecim mīlia armātōrum: supply hominum

ā Tremelliō quaestōre: i.e., Lucius Tremellius Scrofa. His cognomen Scrofa means "breeding sow," and he acquired it on this campaign. See Varro, On Agriculture 2.4.1. A quaestor was an officer in charge of the treasury. Two remained in the city while the others accompanied the provincial governors and managed the finances of the provinces (Hazzard).

Ch. 16: War with Viriathus (146–141 BCE)

For details, see Appian, The Spanish Wars 60–79.

(1) Eōdem tempore: 143 BCE

Metellus: Q. Caecilius Metellus, called Macedonicus, was the son of Caecilius mentioned in Brev. 3.19. He was consul in 143 BCE, and received the province of Hither Spain, where he carried on war with success for two years against the Celtiberi. His brother, L. Caecilius, was consul in 142 BCE (Brev. 4.21, 4.23) (Hazzard).

Successit eī: compound verb successit takes a dative object (AG 370)

Q. Pompēius: see Quintus Pompeius

(2) Viriāthus: Between 146–141 BCE Viriathus, benefitting from Rome's campaign in Greece and Africa and his knowledge of the terrain, defeated several Roman generals including Q. Fabius Maximus Servilianus, from whom he wrung a favorable peace (141 BCE). The following year Q. Caepio persuaded the Senate to disavow the treaty and had Virathus assassinated. The Lusitanians, now leaderless, surrendered soon afterwards (139 BCE) (Bird).

Quō metū: i.e., fear of the Romans

ut ... putārētur: result clause following the adjective tantōs (AG 537).

adsertor: "restorer of liberty," "champion"

(3) numquam Rõmānīs placuisse imperātōrēs ā suīs mīlitibus interficī: Rōmānīs is the dative object of placuisse (LS placeo II.A). Caepio's response is a typical piece of Roman propaganda during a shameful period in Roman history. Supposedly the assassins of Viriathus were driven from Roman unrewarded (Livy, Epitome 55; Orosius, Against the Pagans 5.4) (Bird).