Rome’s Forgotten General: Upstart Poor Boy Becomes Military Conqueror – Part I

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Statue of Roman Soldier (Public Domain), and recreators of Roman legionaries wearing the lorica segmentata, 1st-3rd century (Caliga10/CC BY-SA 3.0); Deriv.

Rome’s Forgotten General: Upstart Poor Boy Becomes Military Conqueror – Part I

In the spring of 40 BCE, the Parthians, led by Quintus Labienus, a Roman general who was supported the Liberators (consisting of Brutus and Cassius, who participated in the assassination of Caesar), was on a mission to seek Parthian support and give aid.

The Parthian King Orodes II accepted Labienus. Soon thereafter, Labienus and Prince Pacorus (then probably about 12 years old) crossed the Euphrates River and advanced in Syria. Once in Syria, the Parthian force, consisting of cavalry and a hefty supply train, headed straight for the city of Apamea.

While in Alexandria, Antony (Mark Antony, Roman politician and general) received word that the Parthians had invaded Syria. Immediately, he set out with two hundred ships.

Bust of Labienus


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