01 AUGUSTUS (76; r.27.01-00-14.08)
Cantabrian Wars (27-19 BC)
A few years earlier Octavian, now with the title of Augustus, had ordered his legates Statilius (cos.37 BC), Calvisius (1) (cos.39 BC) and Appuleius (3) (cos.29 BC) to prepare the final stage in the conquest of Spain against the Cantabri, the Astures and the Gallaeci on the northern coast of Spain. In 27 BC he personally took charge of the war and eventually deployed seven legions under the leadership of himself, 02Antistius Vetus (cos.30 BC) the governor of Nearer Spain (27-25), and Carisius the governor of Further Spain (27-22 BC).
In 26 BC Augustus advanced northwards from Segisama (=Sasamon), the capital of the Turmodigi tribe, against the Cantabrian stronghold of Aracillum (=Aradillos), twenty miles west of Santander, assisted by seaborne troops sailing westwards along the northern coast. Ill health, however, soon forced him to leave the field, and 02Antistius Vetus (cos.30 BC) took sole command and soon captured the city. He then advanced northwest and took the Cantabrian fort at Bergidum (=Villafranca del Bierzo). Vetus finished his campaign with the capture of Lucus (=Lugo) on the Minho River, a further fifty miles northwest. Carisius had also experienced success, managing to outmanoeuvre an attack by the Astures and eventually captured their stronghold at Lancia (=Villasbariego, Leon). Believing that the northwest was now pacified, Augustus left Hispania in 24 BC and returned to Rome.
In 24 BC Aemilius (17), governor of Hispania Citerior, suppressed a revolt among the Cantabri and Astures. Two years later renewed hostilities in Cantabria were quelled by Furnius, the new governor of Citerior, and Carisius. Resentment, however, still ran high enough to require the personal intervention of Vipsanius Agrippa (c.51/2; fl.45-12 BC), who brought the Cantabri firmly under Roman domination in 19 BC.
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