Battle of the Baetis River facts for kids

The Battle of the Baetis River was an important fight in ancient Spain. It happened in 80 BC at the start of the Sertorian War. This battle was between the army of the Roman Republic and a group of rebels.

The fight took place near the Baetis River, which is now called the Guadalquivir River. The Roman army was led by Lucius Fufidius. The rebel army was led by a Roman named Quintus Sertorius. Sertorius and his rebels won the battle. This victory helped Sertorius take control of a large area of Spain called Hispania Ulterior.

Why Did the Battle Happen?

In 82 BC, a big civil war was happening in Rome. Quintus Sertorius left Italy for Spain, where he was supposed to be a governor. His group, called the Marians, lost the war in Italy.

So, in 81 BC, a Roman general named Sulla sent an army to Spain. Their job was to remove Sertorius from power. Sertorius and his men were forced to leave Spain.

They went to Mauretania, a region in North Africa. There, they took control of a city called Tingis. Meanwhile, a brave tribe from Spain, the Lusitanians, needed a leader. They were about to be attacked by a Roman governor.

The Lusitanians asked Sertorius to lead them in their fight. Sertorius agreed to help. In late 80 BC, he returned to Spain. He landed near a small fishing town called Baelo (close to Gibraltar). This was his third and final time returning to Spain.

How Did the Armies Prepare?

Sertorius set up a camp on a mountain near Baelo. He started gathering his soldiers. He had brought 2,600 Roman soldiers with him. Many of these were experienced fighters from past wars.

He also had 700 adventurers and hired soldiers from North Africa. The Lusitanian tribe sent 4,700 of their own warriors to join him. Other local Romans, Spanish tribes, and refugees also joined Sertorius. In total, Sertorius had an army of more than 8,000 men.

Lucius Fufidius was the Roman governor of Hispania Ulterior. It was his job to stop the rebels. He had already gathered his army to invade Lusitania. Instead, he marched his troops towards Baelo. Sertorius was a smart leader. He decided not to wait for Fufidius to attack. Instead, he marched his smaller army east. The two armies met near the mouth of the Baetis River.

What Happened During the Battle?

The area around the Baetis River was very swampy. It was like a maze, which was good for people who knew the local land. Since many of Sertorius's men were from the area, they had an advantage.

A Roman writer named Sallust gave a short description of the battle. He said that Fufidius arrived with his armies. He found that the river banks were very steep. It would be hard for his soldiers to cross the river and fight. Sallust noted that everything seemed to favor Sertorius's side more than Fufidius's.

Fufidius's army lost 2,000 men in the battle. They also lost control of most of Hispania Ulterior. Fufidius himself survived the fight. However, he was mostly remembered for losing Spain to Sertorius.

What Happened After the Battle?

Sertorius's victory at the Baetis River was the beginning of the Sertorian War. This war would last for eight years and cause a lot of damage in Spain. Sertorius proved to be a very skilled general. He outsmarted every Roman commander sent against him. He even destroyed several Roman armies.

At his strongest, Sertorius controlled almost all of Spain. The war finally ended when some of Sertorius's own men became unhappy. They planned against him and killed him during a dinner.

See also

In Spanish: Batalla del río Betis para niños