Decimus Junius Brutus Callaicus - Conquest of The Western Iberian Peninsula

Conquest of The Western Iberian Peninsula

Brutus led the Roman legions in the conquest of western Iberia after the death of Viriathus, chieftain of the Lusitanians and the defeat of his successor, Tantalus by Quintus Servilius Caepio (consul 140 BC).

In his conquest, he scored major victories in the south of modern Portugal, before going on to the north. He had the city of Olissipo (modern Lisbon) fortified and advanced to the north, destroying settlements as he went.

The city of Talabriga (current day Marnel, near Águeda) was taken, a fortified position was established at Vissaium (Viseu), the Douro river was crossed and the Lima river was reached by 137 BC. Ultimately, according to Strabo, Brutus reached the Minho River.

At the end of Brutus' campaigns, Rome controlled the territory between the Douro and Minho rivers plus probable extensions along the coast and in the interior. It was only under Augustus, however, at the end of the 1st century BC, that present north Portugal and Galicia were fully pacified and under Roman control.

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