Battle of Valentia 75 BC facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Valentia |
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| Part of the Sertorian War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Roman Republic | Sertorian Rebels | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (better known as Pompey) |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 6 understrength legions and an unknown number of auxiliaries and allied troops | unknown but probably similar to Pompey's army | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| unknown but a lot lighter than their opponents | 10,000 | ||||||
The Battle of Valentia was a big fight in 75 BC. It happened in Valentia, Spain. The battle was between a rebel army, led by Marcus Perpenna and Gaius Herennius, and a Roman army, led by the famous general Pompey the Great. Perpenna and Herennius were generals working for the Roman rebel Quintus Sertorius. Pompey's army won a huge victory.
Why the Battle Happened
The Start of Roman Civil Wars
Around 88 BC, a Roman general named Sulla marched his army into Rome. This started a time of civil wars. Romans fought against other Romans for control. Quintus Sertorius was a Roman who supported a leader named Gaius Marius. Sertorius fought against Sulla's side.
Sertorius's Journey to Spain
After his allies died, Sertorius left Italy in 82 BC. He went to Hispania, which is modern-day Spain. Sulla's army soon forced Sertorius out of Spain. He ended up in Africa. There, a brave Spanish tribe called the Lusitanians asked him for help. They wanted him to lead them against Sulla's governors.
Sertorius Returns to Spain
In 80 BC, Sertorius came back to Spain. He quickly won battles against Sulla's generals. He pushed Sulla's forces out of Spain. The Roman Senate in Rome got worried. They sent a general named Metellus with a large army to fight Sertorius. Sertorius was very clever. He used "guerrilla tactics," which means he used surprise attacks and avoided big battles. This wore Metellus down.
Pompey Joins the Fight
In 76 BC, Rome sent an even bigger army to Spain. This army was led by Pompey. Around the same time, another Roman rebel, Marcus Perpenna, joined Sertorius. Perpenna brought his own army. With these new forces, Sertorius decided to attack cities on the east coast of Spain. These cities supported his enemies. Sertorius even outsmarted Pompey at a place called Lauron.
Leading Up to the Battle
Sertorius's Plan
In 75 BC, Sertorius decided to focus on fighting Metellus. He left his generals, Perpenna and Gaius Herennius, to deal with Pompey. Herennius was probably a noble from the Samnite people.
Pompey Marches to Valentia
Pompey and Metellus used a similar plan to the year before. Metellus went through the middle of Spain. Pompey marched his army south towards the area of Valentia. This time, Pompey didn't face much resistance. He marched until he reached Valentia itself.
Facing the Rebel Generals
At Valentia, Pompey found Herennius and Perpenna. They were holding the line along the Turia River. The two rebel generals were ready to fight.
The Battle of Valentia
A Direct Fight
Perpenna and Herennius decided to fight Pompey in a direct battle. They thought they could win. The fight happened in a narrow space. This space was between the river and the city walls. Neither side had a special advantage. It was a tough fight of strength, courage, and who could last longer.
Pompey's Victory
Pompey's army was made of experienced soldiers. They were much better than the rebel forces. Pompey's army completely defeated and killed many of their opponents. Herennius himself was killed in the battle. About 10,000 rebel soldiers died. After the battle, Pompey's army took the city of Valentia and looted it.
What Happened Next
Sertorius's Response
When Sertorius heard about the defeat of Herennius and Perpenna, he decided to go north himself. He wanted to fix the situation. He left his general Hirtuleius in charge of the fight against Metellus in the west. Sertorius then marched north to face Pompey.
More Losses for the Rebels
While Sertorius was on his way, Hirtuleius made things worse. He got into a direct battle with Metellus near a Roman town called Italica. Metellus crushed Hirtuleius's army at the Battle of Italica. Metellus then marched north to try and trap Sertorius between his army and Pompey's.
The War Continues
Pompey and Sertorius didn't want to wait for Metellus. They met at the Sucro River. Pompey almost lost his army and his life there. Sertorius couldn't destroy Pompey's army at the Battle of Sucro. With Metellus coming, Sertorius had to move inland. He went back to using guerrilla warfare. The war went on for three more years. It only ended when some of Sertorius's own men turned against him and killed him.
