Spurius Ligustinus
Encyclopedia
Spurius Ligustinus was a centurion
in the Roman army
during the 2nd century BC.
man whose father left him a jugerum of land and a small cottage in where he was born, grew up, and continued to live there throughout his life. As soon as he came of age, he married one of his cousins. Although she had no dowry and they began their life together moderately poor, they soon built themselves up into being reasonably wealthy. He also had eight children, six sons and two daughters, who would gain social rank. During the consulship of Publius Sulpicius Galba Maximus
and Gaius Aurelius (200 BC), Sp. Ligustinus joined the Roman army.
In his first two years of being a soldier, he participated in the Macedonian Campaign
against King Philip V of Macedon
. In his third year of service, Titus Quinctius Flamininus
promoted Sp. Ligustinus to centurion of the 10th maniple of hastati because of his bravery. After the Macedonians were defeated and he had returned home as his unit was demobilized, he promptly went to Spain as a volunteer under the consulship of Marcus Porcius Cato
(195 BC). During the campaign, he was promoted again to centurion of the 1st century of hastati, again for bravery. Sp. Ligustinus volunteered to fight, this time against the Aetolians led by King Antiochus III the Great
, under the consulship of Manius Acilius Glabrio
(191 BC). Sp. Ligustinus was promoted to centurion of the 1st century of principes. After they had driven out King Antiochus in the Battle of Thermopylae
, he returned to Italy. Soon after, he fought in two campaigns in which he served for a year. Thereafter, he served an additional two campaigns in Spain, one under Quintus Fulvius Flaccus who was acting as Praetor (182 BC - 181 BC), the other under Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus (180 BC). Quintus Fulvius Flaccus requested he go to Rome with a few other officers for his triumph because of their bravery.
He was soon asked to go back to Spain by Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus, and four times during the three years in Spain he was made first centurion of the 1st century of the triarii. After serving twenty two years in the army, he petitioned the consulate for a further promotion. Sp. Ligustinus ended his speech to the consulate:
After his speech, the consulate was moved by his words, and took him to the senate, where he was again thanked. Spurius Ligustinus received the promotion of Primus Pilus (First Centution) of the First Legion. There is no other mention of him in Livy or other Roman writings, yet he had an excellent career in the army, and was a hero of his time.
Centurion
A centurion was a professional officer of the Roman army .Centurion may also refer to:-Military:* Centurion tank, British battle tank* HMS Centurion, name of several ships and a shore base of the British Royal Navy...
in the Roman army
Roman army
The Roman army is the generic term for the terrestrial armed forces deployed by the kingdom of Rome , the Roman Republic , the Roman Empire and its successor, the Byzantine empire...
during the 2nd century BC.
Life
Spurius Ligustinus was a SabineSabine
The Sabines were an Italic tribe that lived in the central Appennines of ancient Italy, also inhabiting Latium north of the Anio before the founding of Rome...
man whose father left him a jugerum of land and a small cottage in where he was born, grew up, and continued to live there throughout his life. As soon as he came of age, he married one of his cousins. Although she had no dowry and they began their life together moderately poor, they soon built themselves up into being reasonably wealthy. He also had eight children, six sons and two daughters, who would gain social rank. During the consulship of Publius Sulpicius Galba Maximus
Publius Sulpicius Galba Maximus
Publius Sulpicius Galba Maximus was a consul of Rome in 211 BC, when he defended the city against the surprise attack by Hannibal.He was proconsul in Greece from 210 to 206, continuing the First Macedonian War against Philip V of Macedon...
and Gaius Aurelius (200 BC), Sp. Ligustinus joined the Roman army.
In his first two years of being a soldier, he participated in the Macedonian Campaign
Macedonian Wars
The Macedonian wars were a series of conflicts fought by Rome in the eastern Mediterranean, the Adriatic, and the Aegean. They resulted in Roman control or influence over the eastern Mediterranean basin, in addition to their hegemony in the western Mediterranean after the Punic wars.-First...
against King Philip V of Macedon
Philip V of Macedon
Philip V was King of Macedon from 221 BC to 179 BC. Philip's reign was principally marked by an unsuccessful struggle with the emerging power of Rome. Philip was attractive and charismatic as a young man...
. In his third year of service, Titus Quinctius Flamininus
Titus Quinctius Flamininus
Titus Quinctius Flamininus was a Roman politician and general instrumental in the Roman conquest of Greece.Member of the gens Quinctia, and brother to Lucius Quinctius Flamininus, he served as a military tribune in the Second Punic war and in 205 BC he was appointed propraetor in Tarentum...
promoted Sp. Ligustinus to centurion of the 10th maniple of hastati because of his bravery. After the Macedonians were defeated and he had returned home as his unit was demobilized, he promptly went to Spain as a volunteer under the consulship of Marcus Porcius Cato
Cato the Elder
Marcus Porcius Cato was a Roman statesman, commonly referred to as Censorius , Sapiens , Priscus , or Major, Cato the Elder, or Cato the Censor, to distinguish him from his great-grandson, Cato the Younger.He came of an ancient Plebeian family who all were noted for some...
(195 BC). During the campaign, he was promoted again to centurion of the 1st century of hastati, again for bravery. Sp. Ligustinus volunteered to fight, this time against the Aetolians led by King Antiochus III the Great
Antiochus III the Great
Antiochus III the Great Seleucid Greek king who became the 6th ruler of the Seleucid Empire as a youth of about eighteen in 223 BC. Antiochus was an ambitious ruler who ruled over Greater Syria and western Asia towards the end of the 3rd century BC...
, under the consulship of Manius Acilius Glabrio
Manius Acilius Glabrio (consul 191 BC)
Manius Acilius Glabrio was a consul of the Roman Republic in 191 BC. He came from an illustrious plebeian family whose members held magistracies throughout the Republic and into the Imperial era....
(191 BC). Sp. Ligustinus was promoted to centurion of the 1st century of principes. After they had driven out King Antiochus in the Battle of Thermopylae
Battle of Thermopylae (191 BC)
The Battle of Thermopylae was fought in 191 BC between a Roman army led by consul Manius Acilius Glabrio and a Seleucid force led by King Antiochus III the Great. The Romans were victorious, and as a result, Antiochus was forced to flee Greece. It was described by Appian and by Livy at...
, he returned to Italy. Soon after, he fought in two campaigns in which he served for a year. Thereafter, he served an additional two campaigns in Spain, one under Quintus Fulvius Flaccus who was acting as Praetor (182 BC - 181 BC), the other under Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus (180 BC). Quintus Fulvius Flaccus requested he go to Rome with a few other officers for his triumph because of their bravery.
He was soon asked to go back to Spain by Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus, and four times during the three years in Spain he was made first centurion of the 1st century of the triarii. After serving twenty two years in the army, he petitioned the consulate for a further promotion. Sp. Ligustinus ended his speech to the consulate:
After his speech, the consulate was moved by his words, and took him to the senate, where he was again thanked. Spurius Ligustinus received the promotion of Primus Pilus (First Centution) of the First Legion. There is no other mention of him in Livy or other Roman writings, yet he had an excellent career in the army, and was a hero of his time.
Awards
Spurius Ligustinus was awarded the following for his acts of bravery and demonstrations of exemplary leadership:- 34 times for great/courageous acts
- 6 Civic Crowns
- Took part in a Triumph
- Primus Pilus of the First Legion
Wars
Spurius Ligustinus fought in the following wars:- Second Macedonian WarSecond Macedonian WarThe Second Macedonian War was fought between Macedon, led by Philip V of Macedon, and Rome, allied with Pergamon and Rhodes. The result was the defeat of Philip who was forced to abandon all his possessions in Greece...
- Hispania CiteriorHispania CiteriorDuring the Roman Republic, Hispania Citerior was a region of Hispania roughly occupying the northeastern coast and the Ebro Valley of what is now Spain. Hispania Ulterior was located west of Hispania Citerior—that is, farther away from Rome.-External links:*...
Campaign - Aetolian WarAetolian WarThe Aetolian War was fought between the Romans and their Achaean and Macedonian allies and the Aetolian League and their allies, the kingdom of Athamania. The Aetolians had invited Antiochus the Great to Greece, who after his defeat by the Romans had returned to Asia. This left the Aetolians and...
- First Celtiberian WarFirst Celtiberian WarThe First Celtiberian War was the first of a series of three wars known as the Celtiberian Wars. It was fought between the advancing legions of the Roman Republic and the Celtiberian tribes of Hispania Citerior from 181 to 179 BC....
- Lusitanian WarLusitanian WarThe Lusitanian War, called the Purinos Polemos , was a war of resistance fought between the advancing legions of the Roman Republic and the Lusitani tribes of Hispania Ulterior from 155 to 139 BC. The Lusitani revolted on two separate occasions and were pacified...
- Numantine WarNumantine WarThe Numantine War was the last conflict of the Celtiberian Wars fought by the Romans to subdue those people along the Ebro. It was a twenty year long conflict between the Celtiberian tribes of Hispania Citerior and the Roman government. It began in 154 BC as a revolt of the Celtiberians of...
/Second Celtiberian War
External links
- Livy Book 42 http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/txt/ah/Livy/Livy42.html