Rise of the Roman Empire (Episode 26): Rome's Conflict with the Spanish Tribe

In the Second Punic War, CPO Afrikanas expelled Carthage from Spain. Rome named Spain Hispania. CPO left Spain in 206 BC. It was during this time that the first Latin colony was established in Spain, near present-day Seville. Its name was Italica. From then until 196 BC, the provincial government ruled over Rome.
In Spain, Rome controlled mainly the Mediterranean and the Atlantic coast. In 1978, Rome divided the territory of Spain on both sides of the Ibro River into two provinces - Hispania Criterion (Nearer Spain) and Hispania Altier (Further Spain). Governors were sent from Rome to govern these two parts.
The original Spanish tribes, however, did not readily accept the Roman invasion of the region. Notable among these were the Celtiberians and the Lusitanians. They lived throughout central and western present-day Spain. Modern historians have identified Portugal as the home of the Lusitanians. Its previous name was Lusitania.

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 *The cause of the dispute

The Roman tribes considered the Spanish tribes to be a barbaric people. Success in war was a measure of the Roman rulers' dignity at that time. The position of the Senate was higher than that of winning wars and sending valuable material to Rome. It was easy for them to return to Rome and hold high political office. From this point on, the Roman rulers of Spain at first considered Spanish cities to be easy prey.
These were a source of sure victory and wealth for them, which would protect their personal pride and prestige. But the Spanish nations were adept at war. Despite their lack of resources and equipment, like Rome, the rugged mountains and jungles of Spain allowed them to wage guerrilla warfare. Again and again they put up strong resistance against the Roman aggression. So Rome had to spend a lot of time and troops to establish full authority in Hispania.

  *Rebellion of the Celtiberians

The Celticians took up arms against Rome three times in the next twenty-five years after the arrival of Rome in Spain. They were first severely suppressed by Marcus Porcius Cato in 196/195 BC. He extended the boundaries of Rome's power before Ibro and disarmed the inhabitants of the area from the Pyrenees to Guadalquivir, destroying all their forts and defenses.

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The Celtibrians did not give up. When unrest broke out again between 191 and 169 BC, Lucius Aemilius Paulus took control of the situation. But ten years later they became hot again. The ruler of Spain at that time was Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus. He captured hundreds of Celtic cities by 16 BC and forced them to submit. Gracus, however, was more lenient than previous Roman rulers.He justifiably settled the demands of the Spanish tribes and arranged their cultivable lands. Gracas became revered by the Spanish tribes for his foresight and justice. His reforms led to relative peace in Spain for about twenty-five years. In 161 BC, another Latin colony was established in Carteia. However, minor clashes continued throughout the time in Lusitania.