Iberian Wars, 153BC

Appius Aurelius Cotta, quaestor of nearer Spain, marched out to punish the Celtiberian tribes, who were raiding communities allied to Rome. He fell upon the raiders as they returned to their stronghold.



Neither side got the measure of the other, and in the end Roman numbers carried the day.



Campaigning against the Lusitanian tribes, Appius Fabius Maximus was attacked by a large army.



He deployed on a hilltop.



Heedless of the steep climb, the Iberians advanced up the hill to the attack.



On the right, the allied cavalry moved to outflank a group of Iberian elites.



In the centre tired Iberians began to flee.



Panic spread like wildfire, turning flight to rout.



The Iberian chief was killed as he ran.



And Fabius had won the day.



Later in the season, Fabius was attacked by a second Lusitanian army.



Again he took up a commanding position on the heights.



While it was a closer-run thing, his rested men fought downhill to victory.