Larus (Cantabrian) facts for kids

Larus was a brave leader of Cantabrian fighters. He was a mercenary, meaning he was a soldier who fought for money. Larus served in the Carthaginian army during a big war called the Second Punic War. We know about him mostly from an old poem called Punica by Silius Italicus. He is believed to have died around 207 BC.

Larus's Story

Statue of a Cantabrian warrior in Santander.

Larus is mainly known from a long poem written by Silius Italicus. In this poem, Larus stands out as a very important fighter in a battle in Celtiberia. This battle was fought between Carthaginian generals, Mago Barca and Hanno, and the Roman general, Marcus Junius Silanus.

Some historians wonder if Larus was a real person. They think Silius might have added exciting heroes and duels to make his poem more dramatic, like old Greek stories. However, others believe Larus was real because his role in the battle seems too important to be made up.

Joining the Carthaginian Army

If Larus was a real person, he would have been active around 207 BC. This was after a big battle called the Battle of the Metaurus. In that battle, a Carthaginian general named Hasdrubal Barca and his new Spanish fighters were defeated.

After this loss, Hanno and Mago started looking for new soldiers in Hispania (modern-day Spain). They needed to replace the army Hasdrubal had lost. Larus joined them, leading a group of young Cantabrian warriors.

A Mighty Warrior

Larus and his men fought with battle axes and small shields called caetras. Larus was described as a very tall and strong man. He was an amazing fighter, like the ideal Celtic warrior. He could even use a large double-headed axe with just one hand! Larus was also known for being a fearsome fighter even without weapons.

The Battle and Larus's Last Stand

Larus's first and only battle began when the Roman forces attacked the Carthaginian camps. The Carthaginian generals, Mago and Hanno, thought they were safe. They had split their camp and were not ready for an attack. This made it hard for them to react quickly.

The Carthaginian army was quickly defeated. But Larus and his group of fighters launched a strong counterattack. Even when all of his men were killed, Larus kept fighting alone. He killed so many Roman soldiers by himself that they started to avoid him because they were scared.

Only one Roman soldier, Lucius Cornelius Scipio, dared to fight Larus. They had a one-on-one duel. In the end, Scipio defeated and killed Larus. With the brave Cantabrian warrior dead, the Carthaginians lost the battle, and Hanno was captured.

See also

In Spanish: Laro para niños

• Corocotta
• Viriathus (Second Punic War)