Roman Guerilla Wars

  • During the Roman Period, the Roman Legions had to deal with several Guerilla Wars.
  • Some took 2-3 years to subdue, others took up to 10 years.

Lusitanian War (155-139 BCE)

  • A 16 year war, noted for the rise of the Guerilla Leader, Viriathus, who only lost one battle and who the Romans had to assassinate for them to win the war.

Cantabrian Wars (25-16 BCE)

  • The Cantabrian Wars (29-19 BCE) were one of the most difficult Wars at the beginning of the Roman Empire, and were personally conducted by Augustus (27 BCE-14 CE) himself.
  • The Cantabri and the Asturs conducted a guerilla war for ten years, and the Romans were then obliged to keep three Legions there for another 90 years.

Great Illyrian Revolt (6-9 CE)

  • The Great Illyrian Revolt took place between 6-9 CE and was a War to control the Province of Illyricum.
  • According to Suetonius, this was the most difficult conflict Rome had experienced since the Punic Wars (246-146 BCE).
  • By 6-7 CE, 100,000 men were deployed in 10 Legions (50,000 men) with 50,000 Auxilia.
  • A guerilla war followed in the mountains, and the fighting did not finish until 9 CE.

Tacfarinas‘ Revolt (14-24 CE)

  • Tacfarinas was a leader of the Numidian Musulamii Tribe who formed a coalition of the Berber Tribes and conducted a Rebellion in the Province of Africa between 14-15 to 24 CE.
  • He succeeded in disrupting the Grain Supply to Rome by organising co-ordinated hit and run attacks using his own highly mobile Numidian cavalry, which would then disappear into the desert. It took four Roman Consuls ten years to suppress the Rebellion.

Kitos War (115-117 CE)

  • The Kitos War (115-117 CE) is also known as the Second Roman-Jewish War. In 116 CE, Rebellions occurred in Judaea, Egypt, Cyprus and Cyrenaica with the possibility of the Eastern Empire breaking away.
  • In 117 CE Trajan sent General Lucius Quietus to suppress the Rebellions in Mesopotamia and Judaea. His surname was corrupted to Kitos.

Posted in .