METELLUS CRETICUS, QUINTUS CAECILIUS

flourished 1st century BC Roman general. Consul in 69 BC, Metellus was appointed to the command of the war against Crete, the headquarters of the pirates of the Mediterranean. Two years later the Senate passed the Lex Gabinia, giving Pompey absolute control of all operations against the pirates. The Cretans offered to surrender to Pompey, who instructed Metellus to cease operations. Metellus refused and completed the conquest of the island, which was annexed to Cyrene and became a Roman province. Pompey's partisans prevented Metellus from celebrating a triumph at Rome until 62, and in retaliation Metellus led the senatorial opposition that temporarily blocked ratification of Pompey's Asiatic settlement.