Ancient Rome : from the earliest times down to 476 A. D.Pennell, Robert F.
History
Ancient Rome : from the earliest times down to 476 A. D.
Pennell, Robert F.
Rome -- History
Sulla restricted the power of the magistrates to the advantage of the
Senate. Senators were alone made eligible for the tribuneship, and no
former Tribune could hold any curule office. No one could be Praetor
without having first been Quaestor, or Consul without having held the
praetorship. Every candidate for the office of Quaestor must be at
least thirty years old. The number of Praetors was increased from six
to eight; that of Quaestors, from twelve to twenty. The Consuls and
Praetors were to remain at Rome during their first year of office, and
then go to the provinces as Proconsuls and Propraetors.
Three hundred new Senators, taken from the Equites, were added, and all
who had been Quaestors were made eligible to the Senate.
The control of the courts was transferred from the Equites to the
Senate.
On the death of Sulla, in 78, CRASSUS and LEPIDUS were chosen Consuls;
but such was the instability of the times that they were sworn not to
raise an army during their consulship. Lepidus attempted to evade his
oath by going to Gaul, and, when summoned by the Senate to return,
marched against the city at the head of his forces. He was defeated by
Crassus and Pompey in 78, and soon after died.
CHAPTER XXVI. SERTORIUS.--SPARTACUS.--LUCULLUS.--POMPEY AND CRASSUS.
Quintus Sertorius (121-72), a native of the little Sabine village of
Nursia under the Apennines, had joined the party of Marius, and served
under him in the campaigns against the Cimbri and Teutones. In 97 he
served in Spain, and became acquainted with the country with which his
fame is chiefly associated. In 91 he was Quaestor in Cisalpine Gaul. He
was a partisan of Marius during his troubles with Sulla, and on Sulla's
return from the East he left Rome for Spain, where he took the lead
of the Marian party. His bravery, kindness, and eloquence pleased the
Spaniards. Many Roman refugees and deserters joined him. He defeated
one of Sulla's generals, and drove out of Lusitania (Portugal) METELLUS
PIUS,(Footnote: Son of Metellus Numidicus. He received the agnomen of
Pius on account of the love which he displayed for his father, whom
he begged the people to recall from banishment in 99.) who had been
specially sent against him from Rome.
The object of Sertorius was to establish a government in Spain after the
Roman model. He formed a Senate of three hundred members, and founded at
Osca a school for native children. He was strict and severe towards his
soldiers, but kind to the people. A white fawn was his favorite pet and
constant follower. He ruled Spain for six years. In 77 he was joined by
PERPERNA a Roman officer. The same year Pompey, then a young man, was
sent to co-operate with Metellus. Sertorius proved more than a match for
both of these generals, and defeated them near Saguntum.
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