Second Battle of Clusium (82 BC)

Second Battle of Clusium

A bust of Pompeius Magnus.

Date	September, 82 BC
Location	Faenza, Roman Republic
Result	Optimates Victory

Belligerents

Optimates

Populares

Commanders and leaders

Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus

Gaius Carrinas

Gaius Marcius Censorinus

Strength

20,000 Legionaries

25,000 Legionaries

Casualties and losses

Low

High

Roman Republican Civil Wars

1st Servile 2nd Servile Social Sulla's 1st Sertorian Sulla's 2nd 3rd Servile Catilinarian conspiracy Caesar's Post-Caesarian Liberators' Sicilian Fulvia's Final

First Civil War of the Roman Republic

Mount Tifata Asio River Sacriporto Sena Gálica Saturnia Glanis River Espolecio 1 Clusium 1 Espolecio 2 Faventia Fidentia Clusium 2 Colline Gate Praeneste Neápolis Utica Norba Caesarina Nola Volterras

The Battle of Faventia was a battle that took place in September of 82 BC at Faventia during the context of Sulla's Second Civil War. The battle pitted the Optimates under the command of Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius against the Populares forces commanded by Gaius Norbanus Balbus. The battle resulted in an Optimate victory.

Context

Main article: Sulla's Second Civil War

Through the course of the campaign of 82 BC, the Populares forces had divided into two groups, those in the north under the command of Gnaeus Papirius Carbo, and those in the south who were commanded by Gaius Marius the Younger. Sulla had successfully defeated Marius Battle of Sacriporto and had managed to pin Marius and his fellow survivors under a siege at Preneste. Rome itself soon after had fallen to the Optimates. Soon after, the war had shifted to Etruria where Sulla engaged in a pitched cavalry skirmish against Popular forces near the Glanis River, emerging victorious.^[1] His forces managed to defeat those of Gnaeus Papirius Carbo after expelling Carbo from Picenum.

The Battle

After the successive Popular defeates at the Battles of Faventia Fidentia, Gnaeus Papirius Carbo became disenchanted with his role in the Sullan opposition. Despite having 30,000 soldiers near Clusium, two legions under Lucius Junius Brutus Damasipus, and a contingent of Samnite and Lucani soldiers, he decided instead to flee to Africa.

The troops that were encamped at Clusium were placed under the joint command of Gaius Carrinas and Gaius Marcius Censorinus. These forces came under attack by Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus and nearly two thirds of their army was wiped out in that confrontation. The surviving Populares fled towards the camp of Lucius Junius Brutus Damasipus.^[2]

In this battle, Pompei's lieutenants were Publius Servilius Vatia Isauricus and his brother whose name is unknown.^[3]

References

↑ Mommsen 1856a, pp. 344–347
↑ Appian, The Civil Wars, 1, 92.
↑ Plutarch, Sulla, 28, 8.

Bibliography

Classic Sources

Appian, The Civil Wars.

Modern Sources

Mommsen, Theodor (1856a). Historia de Roma. 3. Translated by Alejo García Moreno. Madrid: Turner, 2003. ISBN 84-7506-607-0.

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