Titus Didius

Titus Didius was a Roman general and politician. He is credited with the restoration of the Villa Publica Makin, Ena. "The Triumphal Route, with Particular Reference to the Flavian Triumph." The Journal of Roman Studies 11(1921) 27. ] and his governing of Hispania Citerior (modern day Spain) during the Roman Republic.

Titus Didius first held office in 103 BC as a Tribune of the Plebs. Broughton, Robert. The Magistrates of the Roman Republic.] He is noted for attempting to veto Gaius Norbanus’s (a fellow Tribune) prosecution of Q. Servilius Caepio in the aftermath of the Battle of Arausio Broughton, Robert. The Magistrates of the Roman Republic.] (which resulted in him being driven off from the proceedings by force). Two years later he was elected a Praetor. During this time he fought in Macedon, defeating the Scordisci Broughton, Robert. The Magistrates of the Roman Republic.] and earning his first triumph upon his return in 100 BC. [ Cicero, "In Pisonem." http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0020&layout=&loc=Pis.+60 ] In 98 BC Didius was elected Consul alongside Q. Caecilius Metellus Nepos. Along with restoring the Villa Publica, Makin, Ena. "The Triumphal Route, with Particular Reference to the Flavian Triumph." The Journal of Roman Studies 11(1921) 27. ] he enacted a law which disallowed combining two unrelated proposals in one bill. [Cicero, "de Domo Sua." ] After his term as consul, he was rewarded with the governorship of the province of Hispania Citerior, where he served from 97 BC to 93 BC. Broughton, Robert. The Magistrates of the Roman Republic.] Nearly his entire proconsul term over Spain was spent at war with the Celtiberi. Broughton, Robert. The Magistrates of the Roman Republic.] In the four years Didius governed Spain he achieved multiple victories and is said to have slain 20,000 Arevaci, quelled the rebellious city of Termes , today Tiermes (Soria, Spain), and successfully executed a nine month siege of Colenda, ending in the selling the city’s women and children as slaves. Appian, History of Rome. http://www.livius.org/ap-ark/appian/appian_spain_20.html#%A7100] Also as proconsul, Didius earned another triumph after the slaughtering of a colony of robbers. [William Smith, "T. Didius." Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. 1870. http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/1011.html] . (He tricked the robbers into an ambush at his camp with false promises of free land in exchange for a surrender). Appian, History of Rome. http://www.livius.org/ap-ark/appian/appian_spain_20.html#%A7100] After concluding his service in Spain, Didius served as a legate in the Social War, under Lucius Julius Caesar in 90 BC, then Lucius Porcius Cato and Sulla in 89 BC. [Cicero, "Pro Fonteio." http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0019&layout=&loc=Font.+43] Broughton, Robert. The Magistrates of the Roman Republic.] Shortly following a successful capture of Herculaneum, he died in battle June 11, 89 BC. Broughton, Robert. The Magistrates of the Roman Republic. ]

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