Judacilius
Encyclopedia
Gaius Judacilius was a native of Asculum
in Picenum
, and one of the chief generals of the allies in the Social War, 90 BC. He was known to have been one of the ablest and most resolute leaders of the insurrection. He first commanded in Apulia
where he was very successful: Canusium and Venusia, with many other towns, opened their gates to him, and some which refused to obey him he took by force. He executed the Roman nobles who were made prisoners, and enrolled the common people and slaves among his troops.
Judacilius joined with Titus Afranius
(also called Lafrenius) and Publius Ventidius Bassus
at Mount Falerinus, where they defeated Pompeius Strabo
, who retreated to Firmum
, after which the three went their separate ways. When Strabo had in his turn gained a victory over Afranius and laid siege to Picenum
, Judacilius, anxious to save his native town, hastened to the city with eight cohort
s.
He sent word beforehand to the inhabitants that when they saw him advancing at a distance they should make a sally against Strabo's besieging force, so that the enemy should be attacked on both sides at once. The inhabitants were afraid to do so, and a massive and bloody battle ensued between the two forces; Roman reports of the battle speak of 75,000 soldiers on the Roman side against 60,000 Italians, although most scholars consider these numbers exaggerated.
Judacilius nevertheless cut his way through the enemy's lines and into the city. However his plan of seriously wounding the opposing force had failed. He had succeeded only in barricading his forces in with the defenders. Finding that the city could not possibly hold out much longer, and resolved not to survive its fall, he first put to death all his enemies, including those of Asculum he thought had discouraged the townsfolk from rallying to the fight, and then erected a funeral pyre within the precincts of the chief temple in the city. Judacilius then he feasted with his friends, and, after taking poison, he laid himself down on the pile, and commanded his friends to set it on fire. The town shortly thereafter fell into the hands of Pompey and was severely punished for its resistance. The leaders of the insurrection were summarily executed, and the others were driven naked from the town.
Many scholars consider this battle to have been the turning point in the war.
Asculum
Asculum, also known as Ausculum, was the ancient name of two Italian cities.The first is Ascoli Piceno, the Ausculum in ancient Picenum . It is situated in the valley of the Truentus river on the via Salaria. It was originally a Sabine city . Following its defeat by the Romans in 268 BC...
in Picenum
Picenum
Picenum was a region of ancient Italy. The name is an exonym assigned by the Romans, who conquered and incorporated it into the Roman Republic. Picenum was the birthplace of such notables as Pompey the Great and his father Pompeius Strabo. It was situated in what is now Marche...
, and one of the chief generals of the allies in the Social War, 90 BC. He was known to have been one of the ablest and most resolute leaders of the insurrection. He first commanded in Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
where he was very successful: Canusium and Venusia, with many other towns, opened their gates to him, and some which refused to obey him he took by force. He executed the Roman nobles who were made prisoners, and enrolled the common people and slaves among his troops.
Judacilius joined with Titus Afranius
Titus Afranius
Titus Afranius or Afrenius, who was not a Roman, was one of the leaders of the Italian confederates in the Social war, 90 BC. At Mount Falerinus he united with Judacilius and Publius Ventidius Bassus and defeated the legate Pompeius Strabo, and pursued him into Firmum, after which the three went...
(also called Lafrenius) and Publius Ventidius Bassus
Publius Ventidius Bassus
Publius Ventidius Bassus, or in full, Publius Ventidius Publii filius Bassus, "Publius Ventidius, Publius's son, Bassus" was a Roman general and one of Julius Caesar's protégés...
at Mount Falerinus, where they defeated Pompeius Strabo
Pompeius Strabo
Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo , whose cognomen means "cross eyed", is often referred to in English as Pompey Strabo to distinguish him from Strabo, the geographer. Strabo lived in the Roman Republic. Strabo was born and raised into a noble family in Picenum a rural district in Northern Italy, off the...
, who retreated to Firmum
Fermo
Fermo is a town and comune of the Marche, Italy, in the Province of Fermo.Fermo is located on a hill, the Sabulo with a fine view, on a branch from Porto San Giorgio on the Adriatic coast railway....
, after which the three went their separate ways. When Strabo had in his turn gained a victory over Afranius and laid siege to Picenum
Picenum
Picenum was a region of ancient Italy. The name is an exonym assigned by the Romans, who conquered and incorporated it into the Roman Republic. Picenum was the birthplace of such notables as Pompey the Great and his father Pompeius Strabo. It was situated in what is now Marche...
, Judacilius, anxious to save his native town, hastened to the city with eight cohort
Cohort (military unit)
A cohort was the basic tactical unit of a Roman legion following the reforms of Gaius Marius in 107 BC.-Legionary cohort:...
s.
He sent word beforehand to the inhabitants that when they saw him advancing at a distance they should make a sally against Strabo's besieging force, so that the enemy should be attacked on both sides at once. The inhabitants were afraid to do so, and a massive and bloody battle ensued between the two forces; Roman reports of the battle speak of 75,000 soldiers on the Roman side against 60,000 Italians, although most scholars consider these numbers exaggerated.
Judacilius nevertheless cut his way through the enemy's lines and into the city. However his plan of seriously wounding the opposing force had failed. He had succeeded only in barricading his forces in with the defenders. Finding that the city could not possibly hold out much longer, and resolved not to survive its fall, he first put to death all his enemies, including those of Asculum he thought had discouraged the townsfolk from rallying to the fight, and then erected a funeral pyre within the precincts of the chief temple in the city. Judacilius then he feasted with his friends, and, after taking poison, he laid himself down on the pile, and commanded his friends to set it on fire. The town shortly thereafter fell into the hands of Pompey and was severely punished for its resistance. The leaders of the insurrection were summarily executed, and the others were driven naked from the town.
Many scholars consider this battle to have been the turning point in the war.