Editing Quintus Sertorius (section)

=== Lusitania and Lacobriga ===
The Senate learned that Sertorius had returned to Hispania, and as a result sent [[Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius]], an experienced Sullan general, with a proconsular command by the Senate specifically to defeat and drive him from Hispania Ulterior.{{sfn|Gruen|1995|p=18}} Metellus would be Sertorius' main antagonist between 80–77&nbsp;BC. Prior to Metellus' arrival, [[Marcus Domitius Calvinus (praetor 80 BC)|Marcus Domitius Calvinus]], proconsul in Hispania Citerior,{{sfn|Broughton|1952|p=84 – citing Sall. ''Hist.'', 1.111M; {{harvnb|Plut. ''Sert.''|loc=12.8}} – reporting Marcus Calvinus' title as proconsul}} marched against Sertorius but was defeated by [[Lucius Hirtuleius]], Sertorius' legate. Sertorius, who referred to Metellus as "the old woman", employed guerrilla warfare effectively and outmaneuvered Metellus through rapid and relentless campaigning.{{sfnm|Leach|1978|1p=39|Plut. ''Pomp.''|2loc=17}} Sertorius also defeated and killed [[Thoria gens|Lucius Thorius Balbus]], Metellus' legate. 

Although initially outnumbered, Sertorius' repeated victories, along with his "uncharacteristically humane" administration impressed the native warriors, many of whom joined his cause.{{sfn|Konrad|1994|pp=50,188}} His character, in that he treated the natives as allies rather than subjects, may have also played a role.{{sfn|Spann|1987|p=63}} Sertorius organized the natives into an army and adjoined them to his core Roman forces, commanding them under Roman officers.{{sfn|Konrad|1994|p=188}} The natives are said to have called Sertorius the "new [[Hannibal]]" whom he resembled physically (having one eye) and, they believed, in military skill.{{sfn|App. ''BCiv.''|loc=112.1}} [[File:Statue of Diana, 2nd century AD, found at Italica, Archaeological Museum, Seville (39725000184).jpg|thumb|upright|A statue (2nd century AD) discovered at [[Italica]], [[Province of Seville|Seville]], portrays [[Diana (goddess)|Diana]] with a fawn skin draped over a tree stump]]Although he was strict and severe with his soldiers, Sertorius was considerate to the natives, and made their burdens light despite financial strain in his war effort.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2016|p=160}} This was likely partially pragmatic, as Sertorius had to retain the goodwill of the native Iberians if he had any chance of winning the war. Sertorius' most famous strategy to this end was his white fawn, a present from one of the natives that he claimed communicated to him the advice of the goddess [[Diana (mythology)|Diana]], who had been [[Syncretism|syncretized]] with a native Iberian deity.{{sfn|Konrad|1994|p=124}}
{{quote|Spanus, one of the commoners who lived in the country, came across a doe trying to escape from hunters. The doe fled faster than he could pursue, but the animal had newly given birth. He [Spanus] was struck by the unusual colour of the fawn, for it was pure white. He pursued and caught it.{{sfn|Plut. ''Sert.''|loc=11.2}}}}

The Iberians were greatly impressed by the fawn, who was calm in Sertorius' military camp and affectionate with him, and saw Sertorius as a divinely favoured leader.{{sfn|Spann|1987|p=63}} Sertorius would obscure information from military reports, claim Diana had told him of said information through the fawn in his dreams, and then act accordingly to further this belief.{{sfnm|Spann|1987|1p=63|Plut. ''Sert.''|2loc=11}} White animals were perceived as having oracular qualities among Germanic peoples, and in Hispania itself there existed a stag cult of [[Funerary cult|funerary]] and oracular nature; this cult was most popular in western Hispania and Lusitania, where Sertorius drew his most fervent followers.{{sfn|Konrad|1994|pp=124–25}} As a result of all of these factors, Sertorius' power and army grew exponentially in 80 and 79&nbsp;BC.{{sfn|Spann|1987|pp=63-64}}
Sertorius successfully gained control over both Hispanian provinces with the aid of Hirtuleius in 79&nbsp;BC despite Metellus' efforts. From 78&nbsp;BC onward Metellus campaigned against Sertorian cities, but Sertorius thwarted his invasions into Lusitania and Ulterior. When Sertorius learned of Metellus' intention to siege [[Lacobriga]], Sertorius supplied the city in response, and then prepared to meet Metellus there. When Metellus arrived and sent out foragers, Sertorius ambushed them and killed many, forcing Metellus to leave, unsuccessful. In 77&nbsp;BC, Sertorius focused his attention on subduing Iberian tribes who had not yet accepted his authority in the interior. Metellus did not extensively campaign against Sertorius in the year due to the revolt in Rome of the consul [[Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (consul 78 BC)|Marcus Aemilius Lepidus]] (father of the [[Lepidus|triumvir]]). At some point during these years, Sertorius challenged Metellus to [[single combat]], and when Metellus declined, his soldiers mocked him. [[File:Setorius and the Example of the Horses, after Hans Holbein the Younger.jpg|thumb|400px|''Sertorius and the Example of the Horses'', after [[Hans Holbein the Younger]]. The drawing illustrates the example Sertorius gave to his followers that in the same way a horse's tail can be picked out hair by hair but not pulled out all at once, so smaller forces could defeat the Roman armies.<ref>Christian Müller in ''Hans Holbein the Younger: The Basel Years, 1515–1532,'' Christian Müller; Stephan Kemperdick; Maryan Ainsworth; ''et al'', Munich: Prestel, 2006, {{ISBN|978-3-7913-3580-3}}, {{nowrap|pp. 263–64}}.</ref>]]Sertorius made the Iberians an organized army through Roman formations and signals.{{sfnm|Spann|1987|1p=64|Plut. ''Sert.''|2loc=14}} He encouraged them to decorate their armaments with precious metals, thus making them more likely to retain their equipment between engagements.{{sfn|Spann|1987|p=82}} Many native Iberians pledged themselves to him, serving as bodyguards who would take their own lives if he perished.{{sfn|Spann|1987|p=82}} 

Famously, while organizing his armies, the natives under Sertorius' command wanted to take on the Roman legions head-on. Unable to convince them otherwise, he allowed the natives to do so in a minor engagement. Afterward, he had two horses brought in front of them, one strong, the other weak. He ordered an old man to pull hairs from the strong horses' tail one by one, and a strong youth to pull on the weak horses' tail all at once; the old man completed his task, while the youth failed. Sertorius then explained that the Roman army was similar to the horse tail, in that it could be defeated if attacked piece by piece, but if taken all at once victory was impossible.{{sfn|Plut. ''Sert.''|loc=16}}<ref>Valerius Maximus, ''Memorable Deeds and Sayings,'' Book 7, 3.6</ref>