Caesarus facts for kids

Caesarus (also called Césaro) was a brave leader of the Lusitanians. They were an ancient tribe from western Hispania (which is now Spain and Portugal). Caesarus became an important military chief during the Lusitanian War, taking over from another leader named Punicus.

Who Was Caesarus?

Caesarus likely served as a trusted helper to Punicus. This might explain why he quickly became the new leader after Punicus died. It's thought that Caesarus might have worked with Punicus before. They could have been mercenaries (soldiers who fight for money). They might have fought for Phoenician or Punic lands in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula.

In 155 BC, Punicus encouraged the Lusitanians and Vettones to rebel. They attacked and took goods from Roman settlements. But Punicus was killed in 153 BC. After his death, Caesarus stepped up to lead the Lusitanian forces.

Caesarus's First Big Battle

Caesarus's first major fight was in Hispania Ulterior (a Roman province). He faced the Roman Praetor (a high-ranking official) named Lucius Mummius. At first, the Roman army seemed to be winning. They forced the Lusitanians to retreat and leave their stolen goods behind.

However, the Roman soldiers became disorganized while chasing them. Caesarus saw this chance and launched a surprise counter-attack. Mummius's army was badly defeated. About 9,000 Roman soldiers died in this battle. The Lusitanians got back their stolen goods. They also captured many Roman weapons and even their special eagle standards (called Aquila).

Some people think the Lusitanians planned this whole thing. They might have pretended to run away to trick the Romans. After this victory, Caesarus proudly showed off the Roman standards across the Iberian Peninsula. This helped to start another big conflict, the Second Celtiberian War.

Later Battles and Mystery

Caesarus's forces met Mummius again later on. This time, Mummius had stayed in strong forts and trained his army well. In this second battle, Mummius won. He managed to get back some of the goods the Lusitanians had taken.

After this, Caesarus is not mentioned again in historical records. So, what happened to him remains a mystery. Around the same time, another group of Lusitanians joined the war. They were led by a warlord named Caucenus.

What Does the Name Caesarus Mean?

The meaning of the name Kaisaro (another way to say Caesarus) is debated. Some believe it comes from a Phoenician word. This could mean it was a title he earned while fighting as a mercenary. It might come from ksr, linked to the Carthaginian god Kusor. Or it could be from kysr, which means "elephant". This is the same origin as the famous Roman name and title Caesar.

However, others think the name comes from the Celtic language. It might be from gaesi (meaning "valiant man") or gaesum (meaning "iron dart"). This is similar to the Celtic-Germanic name Caesorix.

Caesarus in TV Shows

Caesarus appears in the Spanish TV series Hispania, La Leyenda (which aired from 2010 to 2012). In the show, he is the chief of Viriathus's home village. The actor Lluís Marco plays Caesarus in the series.

See also

In Spanish: Césaro para niños

• Viriathus