CiceroD

Yeah I know. Ive wondered this too but apparently this was a direct quote from old Marcus Tullius Cicero himself. Maybe it was in a small space or maybe their eardrums werent as decibel blasted as ours are

I was under the impression that Sertorius was in communication with Sparticus and with Mithridates in Pontus. While I know that Sulla returned from Spain just for the leftovers of the Spartican revolt It does illustrate the kind of legion shuffling that they were doing to deal with different crises. Sertorius was only about fifty when he died he might of had ten god years in him or he could of died like Alexander. As long as he lived he was a sore on Sullan Rome. If he had ten more years he could have done a lot. especially if he had found out and killed the conspirators. Basically I see the situation like how Hitler lost the Battle of Britain. It was the opening of the second front that doomed the Third Reich. He prevented them from focusing there full attention on Sparticus and Mithridates was ready to renew hostilities too. Im just not sure If Sulla could of maintained a two front war. Remember that Sertorius was a popularis who objected against some of Marius's tactics and was popular. One of the conspirators of his death offered, according to Plutarch, a list of patricians in Rome ready to rise up against Sulla. Even though the list was burned it showed there was discontent in the eternal city. so Sulla was possibly facing invasion from Spain (another Hannibal parallel) invasion of Asia Minor and Greece by Mithridates, and also a post-Spartacan uprising within Italy itself from Popularists. -whew- And yeah ur right Sertorius would have never been able (or willing) to detach Spain from Rome His aim was to reconquer Rome from Sulla.

Anthony Everitt's CICERO (Yes the book that inspired my name) paints Catalina as being really really popular with the young and uninhibited. He apparently also threw the wildest parties that included "deafening" music, booze and sex. This is probably the best tool for the First Triumvirate. He was popular in a way that Caesar and Crassus could never be. It also sounds like such parties would need funding (thus Crassus could control him). Its funny to think of sex drugs and rock n' roll in the Roman Republic

Coming across Plutarch's life of Sertorius I'm surprised Ive never heard of him before. For those whove never heard of him a short bio He was a follower of Marius and Cinna who protested against the killings they perpetrated. When Sulla came back from the war against Mithridates, Sertorius saw the writing on the wall and retreated to Spain. There and in North Africa he fought for over six years. He trained the Spanish Barbarians how to fight as legionaries. They compared him to Hannibal and he certainly was as good as the old Carthaginian. I wont go into details of his exploits. But suffice it to say that he regularly kicked the butt of Metellus Pius (the general sent by Sulla to get him) and he even whipped a young Pompey (rival of Caesar Pompey). When it looked like they would be safe from Sulla he was killed at a dinner by other exiled Romans who resented his rule. My question is if he had continued and had been able to detach Spain from Rome what would of happened? Any Ideas?

I was always interested in History. To me the more Ancient the better. What really focused me on Ancient Rome was the wonderful novels by Lindsey Davis. Is anyone else here a Marcus Didius Falco fan? I know there are historical innaccuracies but at least they made the Roman World real and understandable to me.