The Battle of Tribola was a military conflict between the Lusitanians and the Roman Republic.
Background In 147 BC, the Roman generals Lucullus and Galba had previously committed atrocities against the Lusitanians, killing many and betraying their trust. Among the survivors was Viriathus. By 147 BC, the Lusitanians, numbering around 10,000, rose up once more under his leadership, driven by a desire for revenge and freedom from Roman oppression.”Viriathus rose from lowly shepherd stock to a military career which saw him defeat five Roman generals, including Gaius Plautius, Claudius Unimanus and Gaius Negidius. So successful was he that the Celtiberians were tempted back onto the battlefield in 143 BC to join him. In 147 BC, 10,000 Lusitanians who had survived the atrocities committed by Lucullus and Galba rose up, only to find themselves ensnared in a trap by Gaius Vetilius with a similar number of men. The Lusitanians had no option but to surrender, that is until Viriathus reminded them of the perfidious, murderous Galba and Lucullus. Taking 1,000 men, Viriathus distracted the Romans, allowing the rest of the Lusitanians to escape with orders to rendezvous at Tribola. He then ambushed Vetilius, killing 4,000 of the Romans.” in Chrystal, 2015
Battle Vetilius, commanding a force of 10,000 Romans, set a trap for the Lusitanians leaving them with no choice but to surrender. However, Viriathus, recalling the treacheries of Galba and Lucullus, inspired his people to fight on. Taking 1,000 men, he launched an attack on the Roman forces. This maneuver allowed the remaining Lusitanians to escape to safety with orders to regroup at Tribola. Following this, Viriathus set an ambush in the valley of the Barbesula river. Vetilius. The Roman, unaware of the ambush, marched his army into the thicket of the. Viriathus and his forces launched a surprise attack from both sides, driving them over the cliffs and taking them prisoners. Vetilius himself was taken prisoner, but the man who captured him did not know who he was, and upon seeing that he was old and fat, killed him, believing him a worthless prisoner.
Aftermath Out of the 10,000 Roman soldiers, only 6,000 managed to escape to the nearby city of Carpessus (believed to be the ancient city of Tartessos). The surviving Roman soldiers were stationed on the walls of the town by the quaestor who accompanied Vetilius, badly demoralized. Having asked and obtained 5,000 allies from the Belli and Titthi, he sent them against Viriathus, who slew them all, so that there was not one left to tell the tale. After that the quaestor remained quietly in the town waiting for help from Rome.
See also Viriathus Lusitanian War
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