Editing Quintus Sertorius (section)

=== Civil war against Sulla ===
The years 87–84&nbsp;BC are often described as spent "waiting for Sulla"<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Badian |first=Ernst |date=1962 |title=Waiting for Sulla |journal=Journal of Roman Studies |volume=52 |pages=47–61 |doi=10.2307/297876 |issn=1753-528X}}</ref> and what exactly Sertorius did while Cinna controlled Rome is unclear. He was not sent with [[Gaius Flavius Fimbria (cavalry prefect)|Gaius Flavius Fimbria]] and [[Lucius Valerius Flaccus (consul 86 BC)|Lucius Valerius Flaccus]] east for the [[First Mithridatic War]]. Sertorius certainly served in the government during this time; Cinna may have utilized his skill as a soldier and popularity with the people to quell any remnants of revolt and stabilize Italy, thereby consolidating his power and that of the Marian government. He probably also helped train and levy soldiers for Sulla's inevitable return. Marius died in January 86&nbsp;BC; eventually, Cinna himself was murdered in 84&nbsp;BC, lynched by his own troops. It is probable that Sertorius became praetor in 85 or 84&nbsp;BC.{{sfn|Konrad|1994|pp=74–76}}

[[File:Sulla Glyptothek Munich 309.jpg|thumb|Marble portrait bust thought to be Sulla. Sulla's opposition and disfavour significantly altered the career and fate of Sertorius.]]

On Sulla's return from the East in 83&nbsp;BC a [[Sulla's civil war|civil war]] broke out. Sertorius, as a praetor, steadied the Marian leadership and was among the men chosen to command the anti-Sullan forces against him.<ref>Exsuperantius, ''De Marii, Lepidi,'' 43-44</ref> When the consul [[Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus (consul 83 BC)|Scipio Asiaticus]] marched against Sulla, Sertorius was part of his staff. Sulla arrived in [[Campania]] and found the other consul, [[Gaius Norbanus]], blocking the road to [[Capua]]. At the [[Battle of Mount Tifata]] Sulla inflicted a crushing defeat on Norbanus, with Norbanus losing thousands of men.   

The beaten Norbanus withdrew with the remnants of his army to [[Capua]]. Sulla was stopped in his pursuit by Scipio's advance. However, Scipio was unwilling to risk a battle and started negotiations under a flag of truce. Sulla's motives in agreeing to the negotiations were not sincere,{{sfn|Konrad|1994|p=84}}{{sfn|Strisino|2002|pp=36–37}} in that he likely agreed intending to make Scipio's already disaffected army more likely to defect to him. Sertorius was present at the talks between the commanders, and advocated against letting Sulla's troops fraternize with Scipio's;{{sfn|Konrad|1994|p=82}} he did not trust Sulla and advised Scipio to force a decisive action. Instead, he was sent to Norbanus to explain that an armistice was in force and negotiations were underway. 

Sertorius made a detour along his way and captured the town of [[Sessa Aurunca|Suessa Aurunca]] which had gone over to Sulla.<ref name=":4" /> Sertorius' motives for seizing Suessa are debated. He may have been simply re-establishing the status-quo, or he may have intentionally tried to force an end to negotiations.{{sfnm|Konrad|1994|1pp=83–84 and|Strisino|2002|2p=39 argue it is possible the city defected to Sulla during the armistice (perceiving Scipio's negotiations as a sign of weakness), and thus Sertorius, en route to Norbanus, conquered the town to restore the status quo}}{{sfnm|Spann|1987|1pp=36–37, 151 believes it is also possible Sertorius, who distrusted Sulla and doubted the judgement of Scipio, conquered the city intending to force an end to negotiations. Spann believes that calling Sertorius' seizure of Suessa a "foolish action" is not wholly unjustified, but argues against trusting Appian's account (the only one that survives, based on Sulla's memoirs) which states Sertorius' capture of Suessa as being the main cause of negotiations ending and the defection of the Marian army. So |Konrad|1994|2p=84: "the loss of the Consul's [Scipio's] army was not caused by the seizure of Suessa"}} When Sulla complained to Scipio about this breach of trust by Sertorius, Scipio gave back his hostages as a sign of good faith. Disappointed by the behavior of their commander and unwilling to fight Sulla's battle-hardened veterans, Scipio's troops defected en masse. Scipio and his son were captured by Sulla, who released them after extracting a promise that they would never again fight against him or rejoin Cinna's successor [[Gnaeus Papirius Carbo (consul 85 BC)|Carbo]].{{sfn|Leach|1978|p=25}} 

After Suessa, Sertorius departed to [[Etruria]] where he raised yet another army, some 40 cohorts, as the Etruscans, having gained their Roman citizenship through the Marian regime, were fearful of a Sullan victory.<ref>Exsuperantius, ''De Marii, Lepidi,'' 46-48</ref> In 82&nbsp;BC, Marius' son, [[Gaius Marius the Younger]], became consul without having held the offices that a candidate for the consulship should have held, and at the unconstitutional age of 27. Sertorius, who probably qualified for the office, objected but his opinion was ignored.{{sfn|Konrad|1994|p=85}} Following this appointment, Sertorius returned to Rome and castigated the Marian leadership for their lack of action in combatting Sulla, pointed out Sulla's bravery, and stated his belief that unless met directly soon Sulla would inevitably destroy them. Plutarch sums up the events:

{{quote|Cinna was murdered and against the wishes of Sertorius, and against the law, the younger Marius took the consulship while such [ineffectual] men as [[Gnaeus Papirius Carbo (consul 85 BC)|Carbo]], [[Gaius Norbanus|Norbanus]], and [[Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus (consul 83 BC)|Scipio]] had no success in stopping Sulla's advance on Rome, so the Marian cause was being ruined and lost; cowardice and weakness by the generals played its part, and treachery did the rest, and there was no reason why Sertorius should stay to watch things going from bad to worse through the inferior judgement of men with superior power.{{sfn|Plut. ''Sert.''|loc=6}}}}