Titus Labienus (100-17 March 45 BC) was a Roman general who served as Tribune of the Plebs in 63 BC, as one of Julius Caesar's main lieutenants in the Gallic Wars, and as a general of Pompey during Caesar's Civil War, during which he was killed in battle with his former superior at the Battle of Munda.
Biography[]
Titus Labienus was born in Cingulum, Picenum, Roman Republic (present-day Cingoli, Marche, Italy) in 100 BC. Born to a family of equestrians, he rose in the ranks under the auspices of Pompey, and he fought against the Cilician pirates from 78 to 75 BC. In 63 BC, he was appointed tribune of the plebs, and he occasionally cooperated with another one of Pompey's associates, Julius Caesar, forming a friendship with him. As tribune, he oversaw the conviction of Gaius Rabirius of treason to discredit the "final decree of the Senate", which was used by the Optimates of the Roman Senate against the Populares and the legislative people's assemblies. However, Labienus was more of a soldier than a politician, and he secured a position as Caesar's second-in-command during his Gallic Wars, taking Caesar's place whenever Caesar went to Rome. Labienus was a skilled cavalry commander and a military genius, commanding the winter quarters in Vesontio (Besancon) in 58 BC and commanding Caesar's legions in Gaul amid Caesar's invasions of Britain. In this position, he crushed the rebellious Treveri and the Parisii. In 51 BC, Caesar made Labienus Governor of Cisalpine Gaul. However, after the start of Caesar's Civil War, Labienus decided to leave his post and join Pompey due to his earlier loyalty to Pompey, as well as due to his jealousy of Caesar's hoarding of the military glory during his time in Gaul. Labienus, accompanied by Gallic and German cavalry, joined Pompey's army in Italia, and Labienus was appointed magister equitum (cavalry commander). He commanded the cavalry at the Battle of Pharsalus, after which he fled to Corcyra and then to Africa on Pompey's death. In 46 BC, he inflicted a slight check on Caesar at the Battle of Ruspina, but, after the Battle of Thapsus, he joined Pompey the Younger in Hispania. He was killed during the rout at the Battle of Munda, and Caesar buried Labienus with full military honors.
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