Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius

Metellus Pius earned his surname by campaigning for his father's recall, and spent eight years failing to beat Sertorius in Spain. Born around 130 BC, he was the son of Metellus Numidicus, who went into exile in 100 BC rather than swear to one of Saturninus's laws. The son's public campaign to have him restored — with tears, appeals and the mobilisation of the whole Metellan connection — earned him the name Pius, dutiful, and it worked. He was praetor in 89 BC and fought in the Social War, and joined Sulla when he returned from the east in 83 BC, becoming one of his most senior and reliable commanders. He was consul with Sulla in 80 BC and was sent to Spain to deal with Quintus Sertorius, a Marian officer who had refused to accept the settlement. Sertorius fought a guerrilla war with Lusitanian and Celtiberian support and beat him repeatedly. Metellus took to fortifying his camps against an enemy who would not stand, and at one point offered a hundred talents and 20,000 acres for Sertorius dead — an admission of failure that Romans noticed. Pompey was sent to help in 76 BC and was beaten too. Between them they wore the war down by attrition, and Metellus won at Italica; it ended only when Sertorius was murdered by his own officer Perperna in 73 BC. He was pontifex maximus for about twenty years, and died around 63 BC. Sulla's settlement outlived him by a decade. His adopted son Metellus Scipio commanded the senatorial army in Africa and killed himself after Thapsus.

• Lived: 130 BCE – 63 BCE
• Nationality: Roman
• Roles: general, ruler