Titus Labienus (ca. 100 BC–March 17, 45 BC) was a professional Roman soldier in the late Roman Republic. He served as Tribune of the Plebs in 63 BC, and is remembered as one of Julius Caesar's lieutenants, mentioned frequently in the accounts of his military campaigns. is the 76th day of the year (77th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... This article is about the state which existed from the 6th century BC to the 1st century BC. For the state which existed in the 18th century, see Roman Republic (18th century). ... Ancient Roman Official. ... For other uses, see Julius Caesar (disambiguation). ...

Career before Tribune of the Plebs

Reasoning from the fact that his praetorship was in 60 or 59 BC, Titus Labienus most likely was born in 99 or 98 BC.^[1] Many sources suggest that he came from the town of Cingulum in Picenum. His family was of equestrian status. He most likely had early ties with Pompey during his time as a patron for Picenum and his desire to rise in military rank.^[2] His early service was ca. 78–75 BC in Cilicia under Publius Servilius Vatia Isauricus.^[3] Ordinary Magistrates Extraordinary Magistrates Titles and Honors Emperor Politics and Law Praetor was a title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to men acting in one of two official capacities: the commander of an army, either before it was mustered or more typically in the field, or an elected... Regio V - Picenum Picenum was a region of ancient Roman Italy. ... An equestrian (Latin eques, plural equites - also known as a vir egregius, lit. ... For other meanings see Pompey (disambiguation). ... Regio V - Picenum Picenum was a region of ancient Roman Italy. ... The Kingdom of Cilician Armenia, 1199-1375. ... A Roman Consul elected in 48 BC along with Julius Caesar. ...

Tribune of the Plebs, Trial of Gaius Rabirius

In 63 BC, Titus Labienus was a Tribune of the Plebs with close ties to Pompey. Gaius Julius Caesar was also working closely with Pompey and therefore he and Labienus occasionally cooperated. These interactions were the seed that eventually developed into a friendship between Labienus and Caesar. Ancient Roman Official. ...

At Caesar’s instigation, Labienus accused Gaius Rabirius of high treason (perduellio) for the murder of tribune Lucius Appuleius Saturninus in 100 BC. The purpose of this trial was to discredit the last decree of the senate (senatus consultum ultimum), an emergency measure of the senate commonly used against the Populares and the Roman assemblies. Labienus used the antiquated procedure of the duumviri, used in the early republic, against Rabirius. The procedure bypassed normal criminal law and Rabirius would be tried without defense. Since tribunes were sacrosanct, it was seen as an act against the gods to kill one. Thus punishment of the culprit was seen as more of a cleansing to appease the gods. The killing was seen as a pollution so profound that a normal criminal trial was unnecessary and immediate cleansing was necessary to avoid the wrath of the gods. The duumviri were assigned to accuse under the pretense of obvious guilt and cleanse the culprit through scourging. There is also Gaius Rabirius (poet) Gaius Rabirius was a senator who was involved in the death of Lucius Appuleius Saturninus. ... In Roman law, perduellio was roughly equivalent to high treason. ... Ordinary Magistrates Extraordinary Magistrates Titles and Honors Emperor Politics and Law Tribune (from the Latin: tribunus; Greek form tribounos) was a title shared by 2-3 elected magistracies and other governmental and/or (para)military offices of the Roman Republic and Empire. ... Lucius Appuleius Saturninus, Roman demagogue. ... A Senatus consultum ultimum (Ultimate decree of the Senate), or more properly, senatus consultum de re publica defendenda (Decree of the Senate on defending the Republic) was a decree of the Roman Senate during the late Roman Republic passed in times of emergency. ... Populares (Favoring the people, singular popularis) were aristocratic leaders in the late Roman Republic who tended to use the peoples assemblies in an effort to break the stranglehold of the nobiles and optimates on political power. ... Ordinary Magistrates Extraordinary Magistrates Titles and Honours Emperor Institutions and Law Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      The Roman assemblies were the Comitia Calata, the Comitia Curiata, the Comitia Centuriata, and the Comitia Tributa. ... Whipping on a post Flagellation is the act of whipping (Latin flagellum, whip) the human body. ...

Rabirius appealed and Cicero spoke in his defense. However, before the senate could vote, Metellus Celer used his powers as an augur to claim the sightings of bad omens and take down the flag in Janiculum. This postponed the trial. Rabirius was ultimately sentenced to exile, as he was unable to pay an unreasonable fine.^[4] For other uses, see Cicero (disambiguation). ... The Caecilii Metellii was one of the most important and wealthiest families in the Roman Republic. ... The Augur was a priest or official in ancient Rome. ... Janiculum (Gianicolo in Italian) is a hill in western Rome. ...

In the same year Labienus carried a plebiscite returning the elections of the pontifices to the people. This indirectly secured for Caesar the dignity of Pontifex Maximus, by his act of supporting Labienus in this cause (Dio Cassius xxxvii. 37). A referendum (plural: referendums or referenda) or plebiscite is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. ... In ancient Rome, the College of Pontiffs or Collegium Pontificum was a body whose members were the highest-ranking priests of the polytheistic state religion. ... Alternate meanings: see Pontifex (disambiguation) In Ancient Rome, the Pontifex Maximus was the high priest of the collegium of the Pontifices, the most august position in Roman religion, open only to a patrician, until 254 BC, when a plebeian first occupied this post. ...

Labienus was more a soldier than politician, and primarily used his office as a gateway to secure himself positions of high military command. After his term as tribune, Labienus served as Caesar’s legate in Gaul. A legatus (often anglicized as legate) was equivalent to a modern general officer in the Roman army. ... Gaul (Latin: ) was the name given, in ancient times, to the region of Western Europe comprising present-day northern Italy, France, Belgium, western Switzerland and the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the west bank of the Rhine river. ...

Lieutenant under Caesar in Gaul

Labienus acted as Caesar’s second in command during his campaign in Gaul and was the only legatus mentioned by name in Caesar’s writings about his first campaign.^[5] Labienus could be considered a military genius, rivaling Caesar himself in tactical command. However Caesar, as imperator, took credit for many of the accomplishments of his subordinates, especially Labienus.^{[citation needed]} He was also a skilled cavalry commander. The Latin word imperator was a title originally roughly equivalent to commander during the period of the Roman Republic. ...

He commanded the winter quarters in Vesontio in 58 BC. He also had full command of the legions in Gaul during Caesar’s absence, as his legatus pro praetore.^[6] He had this privilege when Caesar was administering justice in Cisalpine Gaul as well as during Caesar’s second campaign in Britain (in 54 BC).^[7] Besançon is a French city, in the département of Doubs, of which it is the préfecture. ... Map with location of Cisalpine Gaul This article is about the Roman province. ...

In 57 BC, during the Belgian campaign, in a battle against the Atrebates and Nervii near Sabis, Labienus, commanding the 9th and 10th legions, defeated the opposing Atrebates force and proceeded to take the enemy camp.^[8] From there he sent the 10th Legion against the rear of the Nervii line while engaged with the rest of Caesar’s army, single-handedly turning the tide of battle and securing Caesar the victory.^[9] The Atrebates (meaning settlers) were a Belgic tribe of Gaul and Britain before the Roman conquests. ... The Nervii were one of the most powerful Belgic tribes, living east of the Scheldt in northern Gaul in the 1st century BC. They were of Germanic origin and must have settled in their country in c. ... Battle of the Sabis Conflict Gallic Wars Date 57 BC Place Gaul Result Roman victory The Battle of the Sabis, also known as the Battle of the Sambre, was fought in 57 BC between the forces of the Roman Republic and an association of Belgic tribes in Gaul. ...

Labienus is also credited with the defeat of the Treviri under Indutiomarus. Labienus spent days with his army fortified in their camp, while Indutiomarus harassed him daily in an attempt at intimidation and demoralization. Labienus waited for the right moment, when Indutiomarus and his forces were returning to their camp disorganized, to send out his cavalry through two gates. He gave them the orders to first kill Indutiomarus, then his trailing forces on their return. Labienus’s men were successful, and with the death of their leader, the Treviri army scattered.^[10] The Treviri forces later regroup under relatives of Indutiomarus and move upon Labienus, setting up camp across the river from his legions, waiting for reinforcements from the Germans. Labienus feigned a withdrawal, enticing the Treviri to cross the river, after which he turned around and had his men attack. Being in such a disadvantageous position, the Treviri forces were decimated. After hearing this, the German reinforcements turned around.^[11] The Treveri tribe of Gaul inhabited the lower valley of the Moselle, within the southern fringes of the vast Arduenna Silva (Ardennes Forest). ...

Labienus’ victory over the Parisii in Lutetia is another example of his tactical genius. Sending five cohorts back towards Agedincum, and himself crossing the Sequana River with three legions, he tricked the enemy into thinking that he divided his army and was crossing the river in three different locations.^[12] The enemy army split into thirds and pursued Labienus. The main body met Labienus which he subsequently surrounded with the rest of his legions. He then annihilated the reinforcements with his cavalry.^[13] Gold coins of the Parisii, 1st century BC, (Cabinet des Médailles, Paris) Coin of the Parisii: obverse with horse, 1st century BC (Cabinet des Médailles, Paris) This article is about Celtic-Gallic people called the Parisii. ... Lutetia (sometimes Lutetia Parisiorum or Lucotecia, in French Lutèce) was a town in pre-Roman and Roman Gaul. ... A cohort (from the Latin cohors, plural cohortes) is a fairly large military unit, generally consisting of one type of soldier. ... Inside the cathedral of Sens, Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot, c. ... In Celtic and Roman mythology, Sequanna (or Sequana) was the goddess of the river Seine and its environs. ...

In September, 51 BC, Caesar made Labienus governor of Cisalpine Gaul.^[14]

Defection from Caesar, command under Pompey in Civil War

Before Caesar took Rome, Labienus left him in Gaul and joined Pompey.^[15] He was rapturously welcomed on the Pompeian side, bringing 3,700 Gallic and German cavalry with him.

In the book, Biography of Titus Labienus, Caesar’s Lieutenant in Gaul Tyrrell notes that modern historians describe Labienus' actions as defection from Caesar, and do not hesitate to call him a “deserter” or “renegade”, possibly due to their liking for Caesar. Tyrrell gives an alternative viewpoint, that of Labienus as a man who “joined the legitimate government in its struggle against a revolutionary proconsul who placed his own dignitas above his country.” (Tyrrell, 36)

However, according to Dio Cassius, Labienus’s reasons for leaving Caesar are not quite so noble. He had acquired much wealth and fame in Gaul. He believed that he was better than his rank and an equal to Caesar.^[16] Caesar however did not give him independent command nor gave him any prospects of consulship. He became resentful of this lack of recognition and developed a deep hatred towards Caesar,^[17] which eventually caused him to turn against Caesar and join the side of the enemy. Dio Cassius Cocceianus (c. ... For modern diplomatic consuls, see Consulate general. ...

Pompey made Labienus commander of the cavalry. He attempted to convince Pompey to face Caesar in Italy and not retreat to Hispania (Iberian Peninsula, comprising modern Spain and Portugal) to regroup, in his claims that Caesar’s army was thin and weakened after his campaign in Gaul.^[18] It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Iberian Peninsula. ... The Iberian Peninsula, or Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe, and includes modern day Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar. ...

But his ill fortune under Pompey was as marked as his success had been under Caesar. From the defeat at the Battle of Pharsalus, he fled to Corcyra, and after hearing of the death of Pompey, proceeded to Africa. He created confidence in the followers of Pompey by lying to them; he told them that Caesar had received a mortal wound at the Battle of Pharsalus.^[19] He was able by mere force of numbers to inflict a slight check upon Caesar at the Battle of Ruspina in 46 BC.^[20] By condensing his force into dense formations, he tricked Caesar into thinking he had only foot soldiers, was able to rout Caesar’s cavalry and surround Caesar’s army. After the defeat at the Battle of Thapsus he joined Gnaeus Pompey the Younger in Hispania. Combatants Populares Optimates Commanders Gaius Julius Caesar Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus Strength Approximately 22,000 legionaries, 5,000-10,000 Auxiliaries and Allies, and Allied Cavalry of 1800 Approximately 60,000 legionaries, 4,200 Auxiliaries and Allies, and Allied Cavalry of 5,000-8,000 Casualties 1,200 6,000 The... (This article is about the Greek island known in English as Corfu. ... Combatants Populares Optimates Commanders Julius Caesar Titus Labienus The Battle of Ruspina was fought on January 4, 46 BC between the forces of Julius Caesar and the Pompeian forces of Titus Labienus. ... Combatants Populares Optimates Commanders G. Julius Caesar Metellus Scipio †, Cato the younger † Strength Unknown (at least 10 legions) Unknown (at least 10 legions), 2,500 cavalry Jubas allied troops with 60 elephants Casualties 1,000 30,000 The Battle of Thapsus took place on February 6, 46 BC near... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Iberian Peninsula. ...

Death came to Labienus in the Battle of Munda, an evenly matched conflict between the armies of Caesar and the sons of Pompey. King Bogud, an ally of Caesar, and his army also approached the Pompeians from the rear. Labienus was commanding the Pompeians’ cavalry unit at the time and saw this and took the cavalry from the front lines to meet him. The Pompeian legions misinterpreted this as a retreat, became disheartened and began to rout.^[21] Pompey suffered massive casualties during the rout. This defeat ended the Roman Civil War. Labienus was killed during the rout. He was buried but according to Appian (BC2.105), his head was brought to Caesar. Combatants Populares Optimates Commanders Julius Caesar Titus Labienus †, Gnaeus Pompeius; Strength 8 legions, 8,000 cavalry total: circa 40,000 men 13 legions, cavalry and auxiliaries total: circa 70,000 men Casualties 1,000 30,000 The Battle of Munda took place on March 17, 45 BC in the plains... Bogud, son of King Bocchus of Mauretania (who was born about 110 B.C.), was joint king of Mauretania with his elder brother Bocchus II, with Bocchus ruling east of the Mulucha River and his brother west. ... There were several Roman civil wars, especially during the time of the late Republic. ...

Fictional accounts

Labienus is featured in The Gods of War, a novel by British author Conn Iggulden (ISBN 0-00-716476-9). He was also an important minor character in the later Masters of Rome novels by Australia author Colleen McCullough. In these, he is portrayed as a very capable but fierce and cruel soldier and commander, who had fallen on hard times because he had drawn the disfavour of Pompey for having an affair with his Picentine wife. McCullough takes a somewhat different interpretation of the events, and has Caesar shunning Labienus, instead of Labienus defecting to Pompey. In the novels, Caesar disowns Labienus when it comes to civil war, not wanting him on his side because he is too cruel and unpredictable. The U.K. Book Cover of the Novel The Gods of War. The Gods of War is the third and final novel (ISBN: 0007164769) in the Emperor series, written by British author Conn Iggulden. ... Conn Iggulden is a British author, who mainly writes historical fiction. ... Colleen McCullough (born 1 June 1937) is an internationally acclaimed Australian author. ...

Notes

References

Cicero, Epistulae ad Familiares

Caesar’s Bellum Africum

Caesar’s Bellum Civile

Caesar’s Bellum Gallicum

Cassius Dio’s Roman History

Sextus Julius Frontinus: Stratagems

Tyrrell, William B. Biography of Titus Labienus, Caesar's Lieutenant in Gaul. Diss. Michigan State Univ., 1970. 10 May 2007 <http://www.msu.edu/~tyrrell/Labienus.pdf >.