Editing Pompey (section)

==Sertorian War==
{{Main|Sertorian War}}
The Sertorian War began in 80&nbsp;BC when [[Quintus Sertorius]], a prominent [[Sulla's proscription|proscribed]] Marian general, initiated a rebellion in [[Hispania]], where he was joined by other Roman exiles like Perperna. Supported by local [[Iberians|Iberian]] tribes, he took control of [[Hispania Ulterior]] and repeatedly defeated Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius through skillful use of [[guerrilla warfare]]. Sertorius defeated other Roman generals sent to oust him and soon conquered [[Hispania Citerior]] as well. Backed by his allies in the Senate, Pompey was appointed military commander in Spain with proconsular authority in order to defeat Sertorius. This act was technically illegal as he had yet to hold public office, illustrating Pompey's preference for military glory, and disregard for traditional political constraints.{{sfn|Holland|2004|pp=141–142}}

Pompey recruited 30,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry, evidence of the threat posed by Sertorius.{{sfn|Leach|1978|p=44}} En route to Hispania, he subdued a rebellion in [[Gallia Narbonensis]], after which his army entered winter quarters near [[Narbo Martius]].{{sfn|Leach|1978|p=45}} In early 76&nbsp;BC, he crossed the [[Col de Portet]] and entered the Iberian peninsula,{{sfn|Leach|1978|p=46}} where he would remain for the next five years. His arrival boosted the morale of Metellus' troops, while some rebels changed sides, but soon after he was defeated by Sertorius at the [[Battle of Lauron]],<ref>Appian, ''Bellum Civile'', 1.109</ref> losing one third of his army while inflicting next to no losses on Sertorius' army. This was a serious blow to Pompey's prestige, who spent the rest of the year re-organising his army.<ref name=":5">Plutarch, ''Life of Sertorius'', p. 18</ref> Metellus' failure to dislodge Sertorius and Pompey's defeat meant the senatorial generals made no progress in the year.

{{Location map many|Spain|caption =Sertorian War in Spain; key locations mentioned in article|relief=yes|border = black| width = 400| float = left
|label =  Col de Portet|pos=top|coordinates={{coord|42|50|N|0|14|E}}
|label2 = Lauron|pos2=left|coordinates2={{coord|39|09|N|0|37|W}}
|label3 = Valencia |pos3=right|coordinates3={{coord|39|28|N|0|23|W}}
|label4 = Sucro|pos4=right|coordinates4={{coord|39|10|N|0|15|W}}
|label5 = Saguntum|pos5=top|coordinates5={{coord|39|41|N|0|17|W}}
|label6 = Clunia|pos6=top|coordinates6={{coord|41|47|N|3|22|W}}
|label7 = Italica|pos7=left|coordinates7={{coord|37|27|N|6|03|W}}
|label8 = Lusitania|pos8=left|coordinates8={{coord|38|46|N|7|13|W}}
|label9 = Narbo Martius|pos9=top|coordinates9={{coord|43|11|N|3|00|E}}
|label10 = Vaccaei|pos10=top|coordinates10={{coord|42|09|N|4|42|W}}
}}

In 75&nbsp;BC, Sertorius led the campaign against Metellus, while Pompey defeated his subordinates Perperna and Gaius Herennius outside [[Battle of Valentia 75 BC|Valencia]].{{sfn|Leach|1978|p=48}}{{sfn|Matyszak|2013|pp=117-118}} When Sertorius took over operations against Pompey, Metellus defeated his deputy [[Lucius Hirtuleius]] at the [[Battle of Italica]].{{sfn|Leach|1978|p=47}}{{sfn|Matyszak|2013|p=118}} Pompey faced Sertorius in the indecisive [[Battle of Sucro]],{{sfn|Leach|1978|p=49}}{{sfn|Matyszak|2013|pp=121-122}} in which Sertorius defeated Pompey's right flank and nearly captured Pompey himself, but his legate [[Lucius Afranius (consul)|Lucius Afranius]] defeated the Sertorian right. Sertorius withdrew inland, then turned to fight at [[Battle of Saguntum (75 BC)|Saguntum]], where Pompey lost 6,000 men, including his brother-in-law Memmius, reputedly his most effective subordinate.{{sfn|Leach|1978|pp=49-50}}{{sfn|Matyszak|2013|p=126}} Sertorius himself suffered 3,000 casualties, one of whom was Hirtuleius.<ref name=ApCW1.110>Appian, ''Bellum Civile'', 1.110</ref>

Although Metellus defeated Perperna in a separate battle, Sertorius was able to withdraw to [[Clunia]] late in the year, where he repaired the walls to lure his opponents into a siege, while forming garrisons from other towns into a new field army. Once this was ready, he escaped from Clunia and used it to disrupt Roman logistics on land and by sea. Lack of supplies forced Metellus to quarter his troops in [[Gaul]], while Pompey wintered among the [[Vaccaei]].<ref>Plutarch, ''Parallel Lives'', ''Life of Pompey'', 18–20.1.</ref><ref>Plutarch, ''Life of Sertorius'', pp. 19–21</ref> Dire straits caused by this stretch of the campaign and Sertorius' guerrilla warfare led Pompey to write a letter to the Senate asking for funds and men, and scolding their lack of support for him and Metellus.<ref>Sallust, ''Histories,'' 1.2.82</ref>

Pompey's letter had the effect of galvanizing the Senate into sending him more men and funds. Reinforced by two more legions, in 74&nbsp;BC he and Metellus began a [[Attrition warfare|war of attrition]] against their enemy. As his chief opponent had lost most of his Roman legionaries and could no longer match him in the field, Pompey, along with Metellus, gained the upper hand, conquering more and more Sertorian cities, slowly grinding down Sertorius' revolt. By now, Sertorius was being undermined by internal divisions.{{sfn|Collins|1953|p=102}} Discontent in Sertorius' coalition of Iberian and Roman forces came to a head in 72 or 73&nbsp;BC when Perperna, leading a conspiracy with other prominent Sertorians, had Sertorius assassinated and assumed control of the rebel army.

Pompey engaged Perperna in battle and defeated him swiftly at the [[Battle near Osca]]. Perperna was captured and attempted to persuade Pompey to spare him by giving over Sertorius' correspondence, allegedly containing proof of communications between the rebel leader and leading men in Rome. Pompey burned the letters unread and executed Perperna, and then spent some time restructuring the local Roman administration, showing a lack of animosity towards his former opponents, which extended his patronage throughout Hispania and into southern Gaul.{{sfn|Holland|2004|p=142}} Pompey and his army remained in Hispania for a few years conquering the Sertorian remnants, and then marched back to Rome.