39.31
When
the Spaniards saw the two Roman divisions on their side of the river, they
decided to engage them before they could form a united front, and swarming
out of their camp they rushed down to battle. The fighting began very
fiercely, as the Spaniards were full of spirit after their recent victory, and the
Romans were smarting under their unwonted humiliation. The Roman
centre, formed by two of the bravest legions, fought most gallantly, and the
enemy finding themselves unable to dislodge them in any other way, formed
themselves into a wedge and thus massed, the ranks behind always more
numerous than those in front, they forced the centre back. When he saw that
the line was in trouble, Calpurnius sent two of his staff, T. Quinctilius Varus
and L. Juventius Thalna, one to each legion, to stimulate their courage, and
warn them that all hopes of victory or of keeping their hold on Spain rested
with them; if they gave way, not a man would ever see the other side of the
Tagus, let alone any return to Italy. He, himself, with the cavalry, made a
short detour and charged the flank of the enemy's wedge as it was pressing
back the centre, and Quinctilius delivered a similar charge on the other side.
But the cavalry under Calpurnius fought with much the greater
determination, and he, himself, most of all. He was the first to strike down
an enemy, and he rode so far into the hostile ranks that it was difficult to
recognise to which side he belonged. The praetor's conspicuous courage
fired the cavalry, and the cavalry fired the infantry. The leading centurions
who saw the praetors in the midst of the enemy's weapons felt that their
honour was at stake; they each urged on their standard-bearers, shouting to
them to carry their standards forward, and then called upon the soldiers to
follow them up. The battle-shout rose again from the whole army, and they
dashed forward as if they were charging from higher ground. Just like a
mountain torrent they bore down and swept away their unnerved foe, and as
rank after rank pressed on, they carried all before them. The cavalry pursued
the fugitives up to their camp, and mingling with the crowded enemy forced
their way into it. Here a fresh battle began with those left to guard the camp,
and the Roman troops were obliged to dismount and fight on foot. The fifth
legion now joined the combatants, and the rest came up as fast as they could.
The Spaniards were cut down everywhere throughout the camp; not more
than 4000 men escaped. Of these about 3000, who had retained their arms,
occupied a mountain in the neighbourhood, and the rest, only half-armed,
straggled about the country. The enemy had numbered more than 35,000,
out of whom this small number alone survived the battle. One hundred and
thirty-two standards were captured. Of the Romans and allies little more
than 600 fell, and of the native auxiliaries about 150. It was mainly the loss
of five military tribunes and a few of the Roman cavalry that gave the victory
the appearance of a bloody one. As they had not ground sufficient for their
own camp, they remained in the enemy's camp. The next day Calpurnius
addressed words of thanks and praise to the cavalry, and presented them
with ornamental trappings for their horses. He told them that it was mainly
due to them that the enemy had been routed, and his camp captured.
Quinctius presented his cavalry with chains and brooches. The centurions
also in both armies received rewards, especially those who had been posted
in the centre.