Metellus Pius and Empeasement of res publica in 70s BC

The article is devoted to Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius’ pacification measures in Hispania Ulterior in 70s BC when he fought against Sertorian insurgents as proconsul of this province in 79–71 BC, and his political position during anti-Sullan reforms in 70–69 BC. It is pointed out that Metellus Pius operated quite successfully against the enemy; the dispatch of Pompey with his army to the Iberian Peninsula was caused not by Metellus’ failures, but by the death of the governor of Nearer Spain M. Domitius Calvinus in the battle with the rebels. Metellus’ measures in Hispania Ulterior are attested in the ancient sources very poorly. They were of a fairly traditional nature: he imposed additional taxes on disloyal communities (but not the whole province as I.G. Gurin believes); granted civil rights to some distinguished provincials, etc. Metellus’ victories over the Sertorians, which led to their expulsion from Further Spain in 75 BC, were greeted with enthusiasm by the provincials, who gave him a triumphal welcome, and their sincerity as a whole is not in doubt. On his return to Rome from Spain, Metellus Pius did not attempt to oppose the dismantling of the Sullan system in 70–69 BC or Pompey personally, although the agents of the latter apparently made great efforts to ascribe the victory over Sertorius to him, ignoring Metellus’ undoubted successes in the fight against the Sertorians. This indifferent position may have been due to his political apathy.