METELLUS PIUS, QUINTUS CAECILIUS

died c. 63 BC one of the commanders of the Social War (9089), who later defeated Quintus Pompaedius Silo, the Marsian leader (88). He earned his surname Pius (signifying filial devotion) by his attempts to obtain the recall from exile of his father, Quintus Caecilius Metellus Numidicus. Metellus was praetor in 89 and was given proconsular command over southern Italy when Sulla left Rome to campaign in the East (86). He was unable to defend the city from the Marians (supporters of Sulla's rival, Gaius Marius). He retired to Africa but rejoined Sulla in Italy in 83. In the brief ensuing civil war against the Marians, Metellus overwhelmingly defeated Gaius Norbanus at Faventia (now Faenza) in 82. Consul with Sulla in 80, he was sent to Spain to fight the rebel Quintus Sertorius, who pressed him hard until the arrival of Pompey in 76. In the decisive battle of the war Sertorius' lieutenant, Lucius Hirtuleius, was routed at Segovia (75). In 71 Metellus returned to Rome and celebrated a triumph. He was pontifex maximus (high priest) from c. 81.