Viriathus
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Viriathus (known as Viriato in Portuguese and Castilian) (180 BC - 139 BC) was the most important leader of the Lusitanian tribe that resisted Roman expansion into the regions of Western Iberia, where the Roman province of Lusitania would be established (in the areas comprising Portugal, south of the Douro river, and Extremadura in Spain). Viriathus led the Lusitanian guerrilla fighters to several victories over the Romans between 147 BC and 139 BC before he was betrayed to the Romans by some of his own men and killed.
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[edit] Viriathus' life
Little is known about Viriathus. He may have been a shepherd, the occupation of most of the Lusitanians. He was known among the Lusitanians as a great warrior. Many nominated him as leader, which he repeatedly refused. He was probably born in Loriga, in the area of Herminius Mons ( Serra da Estrela) - the great fortress and heart of Lusitania, (also in central Portugal) or within this region (Beira Alta).
Most of his life and war against the Romans are part of legend and Portuguese national hero. Viriathus is seen as the earliest Portuguese national hero, and, also as a hero for the Spanish, given the fact that he was the leader of the confederated Iberian tribes against Rome. The historian Apianus of Alexandria in his book about Iberia in part of "Historia Romana" (Roman History), commented that Viriathus killed numerous Romans and showed great skill.
[edit] Conquest of Lusitania by Rome
In the 3rd century BC, Rome started its conquest of the Iberian Peninsula. The invasion progressed quite well in its initial phases, conquering most of the peninsula with relative ease.
Servius Sulpicius Galba commanded the Roman troops in Iberia circa 150 BC and started destroying the rest of the Lusitanian resistance. Fearing the destruction of their lands, the Lusitanians sent an embassy to him. Galba received the Lusitanian embassy politely, suspended the offensive and promised to give lands to the Lusitanian people.
The offer turned out to be a trap. When the unarmed Lusitanians, among them Viriathus, tried to reclaim the lands promised by Galba, many were killed. Viriathus was among those who escaped.
[edit] Lusitanian War
| Roman conquest of Hispania |
|---|
| Second Punic War - First Celtiberian War – Third Punic War – Lusitanian War - Numantine War – Sertorian War – Cantabrian Wars |
Viriathus never forgot the Roman treachery. Later, when some Lusitanian leaders prepared to make a new agreement with the Romans after a major loss of lives to the Roman army of Caius Vetilius, Viriathus reminded them of Galba's trick and proposed a Lusitanian War against the Romans. The Lusitanians cried with joy.
Viriathus organized an attack against Caius Vetilius in Tribola. Since the Romans were better armed, he organized guerrilla tactics and sprung imaginative ambushes. Charging with iron spears, tridents and roars, the Lusitanians defeated Vetilius. After him, the Lusitanians clashed with the armies of Caius Plancius, Unimanus and Caius Nigidius.
To complete the pacification and humiliation of Lusitania, Rome sent Quintus Fabius Maximus Aemilianus, with 15,000 soldiers and 2,000 horses to strengthen Caius Lelius. The Romans lost most of these reinforcements in Ossuma. When Fabius risked combat again, he was totally defeated near what is today the city of Beja in Alentejo. This defeat gave the Lusitanians access to today’s Spanish territory, modern Granada and Murcia.
Learning of these events, Rome sent one of its best generals, Servilius Cipianus, to Iberia. Near Sierra Morena, the Romans fell into a Lusitanian ambush. Viriathus did not harm the Romans and let the soldiers and Servilianus go. Servilianus declared Viriathus to be a "Friend of Rome" and recognized the Lusitanian rule over their own lands.
[edit] Death
The Roman senate did not accept the treaty made by Servilius Cipianus with the Lusitanians. However, the Romans did things differently this time. Knowing that the Lusitanian resistance was largely due to Viriathus' leadership, Marcus Popillius Laenas bribed Audax, Ditalcus and Minurus, three Lusitanians sent by Viriathus as an embassy to establish peace. These ambassadors returned to their camp and killed Viriathus while he was sleeping. When they returned to the Roman camp for their reward, the consul Servilius Cipianus ordered their execution, declaring, "Rome does not pay traitors".
With the death of Viriathus, the Lusitanian resistance began to end, although total pacification of Lusitania was only achieved under Augustus. Under Roman rule, Lusitania and its people gradually acquired Roman culture and language.
[edit] See also
- Lusitania
- Lusitanians
- Lusitanian language
- Lusitanian War
- Timeline of Portuguese history
- Indibil and Mandonius were other indigenous leaders.
[edit] References
- Ribeiro, Ângelo & Saraiva, José Hermano História de Portugal I - A Formação do Território QuidNovi, 2004 (ISBN 989-554-106-6).
- Loução, Paulo Alexandre: Portugal, Terra de Mistérios Ésquilo, 2000 (third edition; ISBN 972-8605-04-8).
- Muñoz, Mauricio Pasto: Viriato, A Luta pela Liberdade Ésquilo, 2003 (third edition; ISBN 972-8605-23-4).
- Freitas do Amaral, Diogo: Viriato ; Lisboa: Bertrand, 2004 (ISBN 972-25-1329-X)
