6.1

War with Sertorius, 78–72 BCE

Livy, Epitome 90–94. Appian, Civil Wars 1.13.107–113. Plutarch, Sertorius; Pompey 16 ff.

(1) M. Aemiliō Lepidō Q. Catulō cōnsulibus: Ablative absolute with a form of esse understood (AG 419.a). In 79 BCE Sulla resigned his dictatorship and retired to Campania where he died the following year, during the consulship of Lepidus and Catulus. 

cum Sulla rem pūblicam composuisset: cum is used circumstantially (AG 546). Eutropius uses euphemistic language to refer to Sulla’s bloody dictatorship, thereby portraying Sulla in a more positive light.

ūnum in Hispāniā: supply bellum. Eutropius describes the war against Sertorius in this chapter.

aliud in Pamphȳliā et Ciliciā: supply bellum Eutropius will describe the events of this war in Brev. 6.3.

tertium in Macedoniā: supply bellum. Eutropius will describe the events of this war in Brev. 6.2.

quārtum in Dalmatiā: supply bellum. Eutropius will describe the events of this war in Brev. 6.4.

(2) Sertōrius: Quintus Sertorius, a Sabine by birth, served under Marius in the war against the Teutones. Before the battle of Aquae Sextiae he entered the camp of the enemy in disguise. In 83 BCE he went to Spain and became the leader of the Lusitanians (Hazzard, citing Creighton).

partium Mariānārum: "a supporter of Marius," partitive genitive (AG 346)

commōvit Hispāniās: Q. Sertorius was sent to govern the whole of Roman Spain as praetor probably in 83 BCE. Expelled by Sulla’s appointee Annius Luscus in 81 BCE, he returned from Tingis (Tangier). The following year at the request of the Lusitanians he gained the support of the native tribes and anti-Sullan Romans and for a time controlled most of Roman Spain. He and his ally, Hirtuleius, were successful against a number of Roman commanders including Pompey until he was gradually worn down by the latter and Metellus. In 72 BCE he was assassinated by his lieutenant, Perperna, who was quickly defeated by Pompey, and the war came to an end (Bird).

fīlius eius: Metellus’ father was Quintus Caecilius Metellus Numidicus, who fought in the Jugurthine War, seen in Brev. 4.27.

L. Domitius praetor: see Marcus Domitius Calvinus (praetor 80 BCE)

inpār pūgnae: i.e., unsuccessful

(3) adversīs: "opposing"

Octāvō dēmum annō: Sertorius was killed in 72 BCE.

per suōs: "by his own men." Sertorius was killed by Perperna.

redāctae: supply sunt