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Viriathus (known as Viriato in Portuguese) (180 BC - 139 BC) was one of the leaders of the Lusitani tribe that countered
the Romans in the region known today as Portugal. He was betrayed by a handful of followers for money. However, after Viriathus was killed, the followers
were killed or enslaved. When in charge of the Lusitanian guerilla (147 BC - 139 BC), Viriathus has defeated time and time again the greatest army of the ancient World, the
Roman.
Viriathus' life
Little is known about Viriathus. Very probably, he was a shepherd - a normal occupation among the Lusitanians. He was known
among the Lusitanians as a great warrior, and many nominated him to leader, what he constantly refused. Some say that he lived
near Herminius Mons (todays Serra da Estrela, central Portugal). Others refer that he
lived in Viseu, near Serra da Estrela. Today, some people refeer to Viseu has beeing the
"city of the Lusitanians", or the city of Viriathus. Also, some studies indicate that the people from this area preserves greater
traces of local ethnies. During the Roman period, many mix marriages where made, and the population of Portugal became widely
mixed, but traces of the local people persist, especially in the area of Viseu.
Most of his life and war against the Romans, are part of legends and Portuguese mythology. The historian Apianus of Alexandria in his book about Iberia part of "Historia Romana" (Roman History), comments about Viriathus, with
the phrase: «Killed numerous Romans and he showed his great skills.»
Conquest of Lusitania by Rome
In the 3rd century BC, Rome
starts its conquest of the Iberian Peninsula and it was very easy
to them, at first.
The consul Sergius Galba commanded the Roman troops in Iberia circa 150 BC and
started destroying the rest of the Lusitanian resistance. Fearing the destruction of their lands, the Lusitanians send an embassy to the Roman consul. Galba received the Lusitanian embassy
politely, suspended the offensive and promised to give lands to the Lusitanian people.
The unarmed Lusitanians, among them Viriathus, later reclaimed the lands given by Rome to them. But it was a trap and most
were killed. Some Lusitanians, including Viriathus, escaped.
Lusitanian War
Viriathus never forgot the tragic trap and later, when some Lusitanian leaders prepared to do a new agreement with the Romans,
after a major loss of lives by the Roman army of Caius Vetilius, Viriathus remembered the Galba's treason and proposed a
Lusitanian War against the Romans. The Lusitanians bawl with joy.
Viriathus organized an attack against Caius Vetilius in Trobila. Since the Romans were better armed, he organized guerilla
tactics and created imaginative ambushes. With the heroic iron spears, charges with tridents and Lusitanians’ roar,
Vetilius was defeated. After him, the Lusitanians crashes the armies of Caius Plancius, Unimanus and Caius Nigidius.
The problems with the pacification and humiliation in Lusitania worried Rome and the Empire send Fabius Emilianus. Emilianus brought with him reinforcements (15,000 soldiers and 2,000 horses) to help Caius Lelius combating the Lusitanians.
The Romans lost almost all this reinforcements in Ossuma. Emilianus, risks again and is totally defited near the today's city of
Beja in Alentejo. Permitting the Lusitanians' entrance in today’s Spanish territory, to areas of today’s
Granada and Murcia.
Knowing of this fact, Rome sends to Iberia one of its best generals, Servilianus. Near Sierra Morena, the Romans
falls in a Lusitanian ambush, Viriathus unharmed the Romans and let the Romans and Servilianus go. Servilianus declared Viriathus
as "Friend of Rome" and recognized the Lusitanian rule over their lands.
Viriathus' Death
However, the Roman senate did not accept the treaty made by Servilianus with the Lusitanians. But the Romans this time will do
things differently. Knowing that the Lusitanian resistance was largely due to Viriathus leadership, Rome bribed the three
Lusitanians of the embassy sent by Viriathus to establish permanent peace. Back to their camp, while Viriathus was sleeping, the
companions, that he sent to meet the Romans, kill him. With this the Lusitanian resistance ended and their lands and the
Lusitanian people acquired Roman culture and language.
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