Publius Ventidius Bassus (91 BC-) was a general of the Roman Republic during the 1st century BC, commanding Legio I Syriaca during Mark Antony's Parthian campaigns.
Biography[]
Publius Ventidius Bassus was born in Picenum, Roman Republic in 91 BC, and he joined the Roman Army to socially advance from being a muleteer. He attracted Julius Caesar's notice during the Gallic Wars and became one of Caesar's favorite officers during the civil war. He eventually threw his lot in with Mark Antony after Caesar's assassination in 44 BC, and he was appointed suffect consul under the Second Triumvirate. In 40 BC, Antony sent Ventidius with several legions to repulse a Parthian invasion, and he was victorious at the Cilician Gates and the Amanus Pass. Despite this setback, the Parthians launched another invasion of Syria, and Bassus inflicted another horrific defeat upon the Parthians at Cyrrhestica, where Pacorus I was killed. After peace was concluded, Bassus became the first Roman general to celebrate a triumph over the Parthians.