Survival of Sertorian Spain

One of the less well known pieces of Republican Roman history is the Sertorian War in which Gnaeus Pompey established his military record.
In this war Quintus Sertorius, a Populares General, fled Rome ahead of Sulla and established a rival regime in Spain based on his popularity with the Lusitanians. Eventually he was ground down and defeated by Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius aided by Gnaeus Pompey.
What if instead of being assassinated on the brink of defeat he had done a good enough job of holding off Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius and Pompey that a was left alone, creating an independent, semi-Romanised Kingdom of Spain in 65 B.C.
Amaong other things he established a Senate and modelled his army on that of Rome so he was some way along that track before his death, despite being a Roman and presumably wanting to return in triumph to Rome.
 
I don't think, given the Roman mindset, that it's plausible he would be left alone. Sooner or later, the Republic will turn on him, and throw enough resources at his state to bring it down. The only hope for Sertorius is to somehow co-ordinate his actions with say, Pontus and Armenia at the other end of the Republic's territories, but the vast distances involved make this unlikely.
 
Well there is some evidence that he received some aid from Mithridates but I agree his survival was a long shot. However considering the endemic civil war that Rome was suffering at this point he might have been able to hold out long enough that whoever eventually ends up on top decides its easier to simply trade with him than conquer him. Similar to how Rome gave up on the Parthians eventually.
 
Possibly, but then, Spain is a lot easier and more worthwhile a conquest from the Roman perspective than Parthia is. Furthermore, Sertorius sets a dangerous precedent for rogue generals- and this problem will become even worse if he or a descendant is still around when the Republic becomes some form of Empire/Triumvirate.
 
Possibly, but then, Spain is a lot easier and more worthwhile a conquest from the Roman perspective than Parthia is. Furthermore, Sertorius sets a dangerous precedent for rogue generals- and this problem will become even worse if he or a descendant is still around when the Republic becomes some form of Empire/Triumvirate.
Yes, the main problem is that a Lusitanian kingdom has its "back" to the ocean. Conquering it means less of a land-border, not more.
 
Thats true, though if they can last a generation or two and can develop a "Hispanic" identity that would be some shield.
 
Was Sertorious going to be defeated anyway, or did the defeat take place because he was no longer there to command his armies?

I read about Sertorious on Wikipedia the other day and thought about posting something like this.
 
This is AH so its up in the air, however I take the view that sooner or later the Republic would either put up a commander who is better than him or a commander who is cautious enough to let numbers grind him down while avoiding disaster as Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius did.
The question is: what if the Republic keeps sending idiots who get slaughtered against him until the Optimates/Populares conflict erupts again and gives him a chance to conclude a canny peace? With peace secured what could happen.
Not least as it would be a society Romanised enough to attract refugees from the ongoing train-wreck which is the collapse of the Republic, strengthening it against clashes with the Republic or whatever follows.
 
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