Publius Licinius Crassus (Legacy)

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Publius Licinius Crassus († June 53 BC at Carrhae ) was the younger son of the Roman politician Marcus Licinius Crassus Dives from the Licinier family .

Gallic War

Crassus fought 58 BC BC as praefectus equitum (rider leader) under Gaius Iulius Caesar against the Suebian king Ariovistus . In the decisive battle he arranged for the reserve to be deployed (Caesar, De bello Gallico 1, 52: “While the enemy was being thrown and chased away on the left wing, he hit us hard on the right wing because of his numerical superiority this the rider leader Publius Crassus the Younger noticed - he had a clearer view than those who were in battle - he sent the third line to our heavily pressed people. " This behavior was considered a serious military offense by the Romans, as the proconsul alone had command of the battlefield. Only he was allowed to give the order to attack.

57 BC Caesar made Crassus legate and commander of the 7th Legion , with which he operated on the north coast of Gaul (today's Normandy and Brittany ). 56 BC BC Crassus subjugated Aquitaine . Along with Titus Labienus, he was one of Caesar's most capable legates in Gaul.

Parthian War

55 BC BC Crassus married Cornelia Metella , the daughter of Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio . 54 BC With 1000 riders he joined his father in Syria , who had gathered a large army there and crossed the Euphrates . However, he had underestimated the fighting strength of the Parthians. In particular the Parthian cavalry with the mounted archers , who were very accurate even at full gallop, hit the Roman legionaries who were trained in close combat (see Parthian maneuvers ). In June 53 BC Publius Licinius Crassus fell in the battle of Carrhae . According to Plutarch , in the face of impending defeat, he committed suicide. His father was killed a few days later after treason.

After the death of Publius Licinius Crassus, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus married his widow Cornelia Metella. Publius Licinius Crassus was close friends with the later consul Marcus Tullius Cicero from an early age .

Remarks

  1. ↑ Plutarch, Crassus 25, 11 ( English translation ).
  2. ^ According to Ovid , Fasti 6, 465 probably on June 9th.
personal data
SURNAME Crassus, Publius Licinius
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Licinius Crassus, Publius
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Roman military leader, son of Marcus Licinius Crassus
DATE OF BIRTH 1st century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH June 53 BC Chr.
Place of death at Carrhae