Quintus Poppaedius Silo

Last updated

Quintus Poppaedius Silo (sometimes seen as Pompaedius) (died 88 BC) was a leader of the Italian tribe of the Marsi and one of the leaders of the Italian rebels during the Social War against Rome. Poppaedius was called the 'heart and soul' of the rebellion. [1] He was a friend of Marcus Livius Drusus the Younger.

A story told by Plutarch tells of Silo making a visit to his friend Marcus Livius and meeting the children of the house. In a playful mood he asked the children's support for his cause. All of them nodded and smiled except Cato the Younger, who stared at the guest with most suspicious looks. Silo demanded an answer from him and seeing no response took Cato and hung him by the feet out of the window. Even then, Cato would not say anything. [2]

In 91 BC, Poppaedius led 10,000 Marsi in a march on Rome to support Drusus' pro-Italian legislation. [3] They were met by Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus, the Pontifex Maximus, who persuaded them to go back. [4]

After Drusus's murder, the Social War started and Silo became the military leader of the Marsi. At the start of the War, twelve Italian tribes formed Italia, their own state in Italy (as an alternative to the Roman Republic), and Silo was elected one of two Italian consuls. As 'consul' Silo was given command of the Marsic group (Marsi, Paeligni, Vestini, Marrucini, Picentes, Frentani), whereas his consular colleague Gaius Papius Mutilus was given command of the Samnite group. During the second year of the war (90 BC) he tricked and ambushed the Roman praetor Quintus Servilius Caepio and slaughtered his army. [5]

The opposing general, Q. Poppaedius [Silo] deserted to Caepio (though this was only pretence). As a pledge he brought with him his own sons (or so he pretended. They were in fact slave babies dressed with the purple-bordered garments of free-born children.) As further confirmation of his good faith he brought masses of gold and silver (which were actually lead, plated with precious metal). Poppaedius pointed out that with his 'defection' his own army was currently leaderless. If Caepio made haste he could capture the entire force. Completely deceived, Caepio followed to where Poppaedius said the army would be. This army was in fact hidden in ambush, and when Poppaedius ran up a hill as though to look for his men, this was the signal for them to spring from concealment. Caepio was cut to pieces, and so were his men. [6]

Poppaedius is said to have killed Caepio himself, as Poppaedius held Caepio responsible for the murder of his friend Drusus. [7] He then went after Caepio's co-commander Gaius Marius, Rome's most experienced general, but was unable to force a decisive engagement. [8] This led Poppaedius to challenge Marius: 'So if you are such a great general, Marius, why not come down [from your fortifications] and fight it out?' To this Marius retorted 'Well, if you think you are any good a general, why don't you try to make me?' [9]

During 89 BC the fortunes of war turned against the Italian rebels. Poppaedius, now fighting in Samnium, recaptured the Samnite capital Bovianum which had been taken by Lucius Cornelius Sulla. [10] After Bovianum he tried to eject the Romans from Apulia but he was killed in battle by Drusus's brother, Mamercus Aemilius Lepidus Livianus. [11]

Fiction

Silo appears as a supporting character in the first two novels of Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series; The First Man in Rome and The Grass Crown.

Notes

  1. ↑ Philip Matyszak, Cataclysm 90 BC, p. 66 and p. 108; Smiths, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography, p. 3158.
  2. ↑ Plutarch, Life of Cato the Younger, 2.
  3. ↑ Philip Matyszak, Cataclysm 90 BC, p. 58.
  4. ↑ Lynda Telford, Sulla, p.85.
  5. ↑ Philip Matyszak, Cataclysm 90 BC, pp 94-95; Appian, Civil Wars, 1.44.
  6. ↑ Appian, Civil Wars, 1.44.
  7. ↑ Lynda Telford, Sulla: A Dictator Reconsidered, p. 89.
  8. ↑ Philip Matyszak, Cataclysm 90 BC, pp 101-102.
  9. ↑ Plutarch, Life of Marius, 33
  10. ↑ Philip Matyszak, Cataclysm 90 BC, p. 108.
  11. ↑ Thomas Broughton, The Magistrates of the Roman Republic, vol II, p. 42; Philip Matyszak, Cataclysm 90 BC, p. 108.

Related Research Articles

Quintus Sertorius was a Roman general and statesman who led a large-scale rebellion against the Roman Senate on the Iberian peninsula. He had been a prominent member of the populist faction of Cinna and Marius. During the later years of the civil war of 83–81 BC, he was sent to recover the Iberian Peninsula. When his faction lost the war, Sertorius was proscribed (outlawed) by the dictator Sulla. Supported by a majority of the native Iberian tribes, Sertorius skillfully used irregular warfare to repeatedly defeat various commanders sent by Rome to subdue him. He was never decisively beaten on the battlefield and remained a thorn in the Senate's side until his murder in 73 BC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sulla</span> Roman general and dictator (138–78 BC)

Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix, commonly known as Sulla, was a Roman general and statesman. He won the first large-scale civil war in Roman history and became the first man of the Republic to seize power through force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Social War (91–87 BC)</span> War between Rome and its Italian allies

The Social War, also called the Italian War or the Marsic War, was fought largely from 91 to 87 BC between the Roman Republic and several of its autonomous allies in Italy. Some of the allies held out until 87 BC.

Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo was a Roman general and politician, who served as consul in 89 BC. He is often referred to in English as Pompey Strabo, to distinguish him from his son, the famous Pompey the Great, or from Strabo the geographer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of the Colline Gate</span> Battle during Sullas civil war, 82 BC

The Battle of the Colline Gate, fought on 1 November 82 BC, was the decisive battle of the civil war between Lucius Cornelius Sulla and the Marians, Samnites and Lucanians. Sulla won the battle on the north-east of Rome, near the Colline Gate, and secured control of Italy. Appian is the only source who provides details about the battle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Vercellae</span>

The Battle of Vercellae, or Battle of the Raudine Plain, was fought on 30 July 101 BC on a plain near Vercellae in Gallia Cisalpina. A Germanic-Celtic confederation under the command of the Cimbric king Boiorix was defeated by a Roman army under the joint command of the consul Gaius Marius and the proconsul Quintus Lutatius Catulus. The battle marked the end of the Germanic threat to the Roman Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius</span> Roman politician and general, Pontifex Maximus, consul in 80 BCE

Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius was a general and statesman of the Roman Republic. Like the other members of the influential Caecilii Metelli family, he was a leader of the conservative faction, the Optimates, who opposed the popular faction, the Populares, during the last century of the Roman Republic.

Lucius Julius Caesar was a Roman statesman and general of the late 2nd and early 1st centuries BC. He was involved in the downfall of the plebeian tribune Lucius Appuleius Saturninus in 100 BC. He was consul of the Roman Republic in 90 BC during the Social War. During the war he commanded several Roman legions against the Italian Allies. He was awarded a Triumph for his victories on the Samnites at Acerrae.

Publius Rutilius Lupus was a consul of the Roman Republic in 90 BC. He led a campaign against the Marsi during the Social War, ultimately resulting in his death at the unsuccessful Battle of the Tolenus River.

Quintus Servilius Caepio was a Roman patrician, statesman and soldier. He was the son of Quintus Servilius Caepio who was consul in 106 BC and who lost his army during the Battle of Arausio. He was elected praetor some time in the last 90s BC and fought for Rome during the Social War. He was killed in the second year of the war while fighting the Marsi by Quintus Poppaedius Silo.

Marcus Livius Drusus was a Roman politician and reformer. He is most famous for his legislative programme during his term as tribune of the plebs in 91 BC. During his year in office, Drusus proposed wide-ranging legislative reforms, including offering citizenship to Rome's Italian allies.

Mamercus Aemilius Lepidus Livianus was a Roman politician and military commander who was consul in 77 BC.

Sulla's civil war was fought between the Roman general Lucius Cornelius Sulla and his opponents, the Cinna-Marius faction, in the years 83–81 BC. The war ended with a decisive battle just outside Rome itself. After the war the victorious Sulla made himself dictator of the Roman Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gaius Papius Mutilus</span> 1st century BC Samnite leader of an anti-Rome rebellion

Gaius Papius Mutilus was a Samnite noble who is best known for being the leader of the southern rebels who fought against the army of Rome in the Social War of 91-88 BC ; was member of the clan Variani/Varriano. His father was Gaius Papius Mutilus, who held the highest Samnite magistracy in Bovianum a number of times in the second half of the 2nd century BC

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucius Porcius Cato</span>

Lucius Porcius Cato was a Roman general and politician who became consul in 89 BC alongside Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo. He died at the Battle of Fucine Lake, possibly at the hands of Gaius Marius the Younger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Sacriportus</span> 82 BC conflict in Sullas Second Civil War

The Battle of Sacriportus also called the Battle of Sacriporto took place in April of 82 BC during Sulla's Second Civil War. The battle pitted the Optimates under the command of Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix against the Populares forces commanded by Gaius Marius the Younger. The battle resulted in a decisive Optimate victory.

The First Battle of Clusium was a battle that took place in June of 82 BC during the Roman Republic's Second Civil War. The battle pitted the Optimates under the command of Lucius Cornelius Sulla against the Populares commanded by Gnaeus Papirius Carbo. The battle was indecisive.

Titus Vettius Scato was an Italian rebel commander, a general of the Marsi during the Social War. At the Battle of the Tolenus River Scato and the Marsi ambushed the Roman consul, Publius Rutilius Lupus after the Romans crossed the River Tolenus. Unfortunately for Scato, Rutilius's senior legate, Gaius Marius, and his division were operating separately from Rutilis and crossed the river downstream of the battle, captured the Marsi camp, and then attacked the Marsi while they were still fighting Rutilius's army, routing them with heavy losses. He defeated Lucius Julius Caesar in battle before marching on and capturing Aesernia. When he encountered an army under Pompey Strabo, instead of fighting, the two met, their armies treating each other without hatred. According to Seneca, he was captured by the Romans but was stabbed to death by his slave rather than face the ignominy of defeat.

Marcus Porcius M. f. M. n. Cato was the father of Cato the Younger. His promising political career was cut short by his sudden death, early in the first century BC.

Livia Drusa was a Roman matron. She was the daughter of Marcus Livius Drusus, consul in 112 BC, and sister of Marcus Livius Drusus, tribune of the plebs in 91 BC. She was the mother of Cato the Younger, and grandmother of Marcus Junius Brutus, through her oldest daughter Servilia.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.