Editing Quintus Sertorius (section)

==Early life and career==
Sertorius was born in [[Nursia]] in [[Sabines|Sabine]] territory around 126&nbsp;BC.{{sfnm|Konrad|1994|1pp=38–39|Spann|1987|2p=1. Nursia had received Roman citizenship in 268&nbsp;BC}} The Sertorius family were of [[Equites|equestrian]] status. It appears that he did not have any noteworthy ancestors and was thus a [[novus homo]] (a "new man"), ie the first of his family to join the Senate.{{sfn|Spann|1987|pp=1–2. If Sertorius did have these ancestors, their names and deeds are not known, but it appears clear that none of his family ever achieved any notable station before him}} Sertorius' father died before he came of age and his mother, Rhea,{{sfn|Konrad|1994|p=35 believes her name might have been Raia}} focused all her energies on raising her only son. She made sure he received the best education possible for a young man of his status. In return, according to Plutarch, he became excessively fond of his mother.{{sfn|Plut. ''Sert.''|loc=2.1|}} Having inherited his father's clients, like many other young rural aristocrats (''domi nobiles''), Sertorius sought to begin a political career and thus moved to Rome in his mid-to-late teens trying to make it big as an [[orator]] and [[jurist]].{{sfn|Spann|1987|pp=4, 6}}

Sertorius' style of rhetoric was "blunt" but effective and bold.{{sfnm|Spann|1987|1p=7. Spann and|Konrad|1994|2p=37 both agree that Nursia probably produced Sertorius' accent}} His speaking style made a sufficiently negative impression on the young [[Cicero]] to merit a special mention in a later treatise on oratory:{{sfnm|Konrad|1994|1loc=xliii points out that although Cicero refers to the [[Sertorian War]] several times, "Cicero's reticence [about Sertorius himself] permits no guess as to how he felt about the man"|Spann|1987|2p=30 presents the idea that Cicero heard Sertorius speak in 87 BC}}

{{quote|Of all the totally illiterate and crude orators, well, actually ranters, I ever knew – and I might as well add 'completely coarse and rustic' – the roughest and readiest were Q. Sertorius ...<ref>Cicero, ''Brutus'', 180.</ref>}}

After his undistinguished career in Rome as a jurist and an orator, he entered the military.{{sfn|Spann|1987|p=10}} Sertorius' first recorded campaign was under [[Quintus Servilius Caepio (consul 106 BC)|Quintus Servilius Caepio]] as a staff officer and ended at the [[Battle of Arausio]] in 105&nbsp;BC, where he showed unusual courage. When the battle was lost, Sertorius escaped while wounded by swimming across the [[Rhône|Rhone]], apparently still with his weapons and armour.{{sfn|Plut. ''Sert.''|loc=3}} This became a minor legend in antiquity, still remembered in the time of [[Ammianus Marcellinus|Ammian]].{{sfn|Konrad|1994|p=43}}

=== Service under Gaius Marius ===
[[File:Marius Chiaramonti Inv1488.jpg|thumb|1st century BC marble portrait bust thought to be of Gaius Marius.  ]]
Serving under [[Gaius Marius]], sometime between the autumns of 104 and 102&nbsp;BC, Sertorius spied on the Germanic tribes that had defeated Caepio, probably disguised as a [[gauls|Gaul]].{{sfn|Konrad|1994|pp=46,47}} Marius may have sought Sertorius (and other survivors of Arausio) out due to their experience fighting against the Germans, as he likely wanted information regarding enemy tactics and movements.{{sfn|Spann|1987|p=16}} Sertorius probably did not know enough of the German languages to comprehend detailed information, but could report on their numbers and formations: "after seeing or hearing what was of importance", he returned to Marius.{{sfnm|Spann|1987|1p=15|Plut. ''Sert.''|2loc=3.2}} 

Sertorius became well-known and trusted by Marius during his service with him.{{sfn|Konrad|1994|p=48}} He almost certainly fought with his commander at the [[Battle of Aquae Sextiae]] (now [[Aix-en-Provence]], [[France]]) in 102&nbsp;BC and the [[Battle of Vercellae]] in 101&nbsp;BC, in which the [[Teutons|Teutones]], [[Ambrones]], and [[Cimbri]] were decisively defeated.{{sfn|Konrad|1994|p=47}} Some scholars believe that Sertorius' tactics and strategies during his revolt in Hispania greatly resembled those of Marius, and conclude that Sertorius' earlier service under Marius was an important learning experience.{{sfn|Spann|1987|p=17. Spann believes that both men were "cautious, circumspect sticklers for training and discipline", and shared a "keen appreciation for the tactical details of warfare"}} What Sertorius did for the next three years is unclear, but he probably continued to serve in the military.{{sfn|Spann|1987|p=18 discusses possible postings}} Sertorius eventually travelled to [[Hispania Citerior]] to serve its governor, [[Titus Didius]], as military [[tribune]] in 97&nbsp;BC.{{sfnm|Spann|1987|1pp=18-19|Konrad|1994|2pp=48-49}}
=== Pacification of Castulo ===
During his service, Sertorius was posted to the Roman-controlled [[Oretani]] ([[Iberians|Iberian]]) town of [[Castulo]]. The local Roman garrison was hated by the natives for their lack of discipline and constant drinking, and Sertorius either arrived too late to stop their impropriety or was unable to.{{sfn|Konrad|1994|p=51}} The natives invited a neighbouring tribe to free the town of the garrison, and they successfully killed many of the Roman soldiers. Sertorius escaped and gathered the other surviving soldiers, who still had their weapons.{{sfn|Spann|1987|p=20}}{{sfn|Konrad|1994|p=51}} He secured the unguarded exits of the town, and then led his men inside, killing all native men of military age irrespective of participation in the revolt.{{sfn|Spann|1987|p=20}} Once he learned some attackers had come from a neighbouring town, he had his men wear the armour of the slain natives and led them there. Probably arriving at dawn, the town opened the gates for Sertorius and his men, convinced they were their warriors returning with loot from the slain Roman garrison.{{sfn|Konrad|1994|p=51}} Sertorius then killed many of the towns' inhabitants and sold the rest into slavery.{{sfn|Spann|1987|p=20}} 

Later in Hispania during his revolt, Sertorius did not quarter his soldiers in native cities, "noting the stupidity of a policy which would cause rebellion in a hostile city, hostility in a neutral one, and corrupt the garrison into the bargain".{{sfnm|Konrad|1994|1p=95|Spann|1987|2p=20. Alongside lowering taxes, the other major policy Sertorius enacted during his revolt which gained him the favour of the natives was never obligating them to quarter his troops in their cities}} The incident at Castulo earned Sertorius considerable fame in Hispania and abroad, aiding his future political career.{{sfnm|Spann|1987|1p=20|Konrad|1994|2p=52 refute the claim of [[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]] which has been taken to mean Sertorius won the [[Grass Crown]] (tied sometimes to the Castulo incident)}} During his military tribunate Sertorius became familiar with the Iberian methods of war, namely [[guerrilla warfare]], which he would later use to great effect in his revolt.{{sfn|Konrad|1994|p=137}}

Didius returned to Rome in the June of 93&nbsp;BC to celebrate a [[Roman triumph|triumph]], but it is not known whether Sertorius immediately returned with him or remained under his successor.{{sfnm|Spann|1987|1pp=21, 161 believes that as one of Didius' experienced officers, Sertorius may have remained in Hispania in 92&nbsp;BC to continue subduing the Iberian tribes under Didius' successor, [[Gaius Valerius Flaccus (consul 93 BC)|Gaius Valerius Flaccus]]. Conversely |Konrad|1994|2p=53 argues Sertorius may have spent the year in Rome gathering support for his quaestorship; as a novus homo the necessary political maneuvering would have required time and effort.}}