2 – The War Resumes
The Numantines had just brought the last installment of silver when Pompeius’ successor, Marcus Popillius Laenus, arrived on the scene. Pompeius knew he would be in trouble if word of his secret deal got out, so he pretended to know nothing about any arrangement when Popillius arrived. The case was ultimately brought before the Roman Senate who decided that the war should continue. Pompeius kept the money paid by the Numantines although he would later face a court martial for his treachery. However, he escaped punishment for his actions.
Popillius attacked the Lusones, neighbors of the Numantines, soon after his arrival but failed to make any impact whatsoever during his year in command. In 138 BC, he was replaced by Hostilius Mancinus. Mancinus’ spell in charge was an utter disaster as he suffered a number of embarrassing defeats. After early setbacks, he panicked after hearing a false rumor that the Vaccaei and the Cantabri were about to join the war in favor of the Numantines. Mancinus ordered his men to flee the camp and they ended up in a desert at Nobilior.
The Numantines gleefully pounced on this blunder and surrounded the Roman camp. Mancinus agreed to terms of surrender and bound himself to the agreement by oath. The Roman Senate was understandably infuriated by yet more disgrace and sent Aemilius Lepidus to Spain to replace the incompetent Mancinus who returned to Rome to stand trial. He was followed to Italy by Numantine ambassadors.
Rather than wait for the Senate’s decision, Aemilius made a false accusation against the Vaccaei. He claimed they supplied the Numantines with provisions during the war and used the lie as a pretext to invade the tribe’s territory. Aemilius laid siege to the Vaccaei capital of Pallantia, and when messengers from Rome ordered him to stop, he refused. According to the commander, abandoning the war would be a signal to the rest of Spain to rise against Rome.
His siege ended in failure as the army ran out of provisions. Aemilius was stripped of command and received a financial penalty when he returned home. This disgrace is nothing compared to what happened to the unfortunate Mancinus. The Senate refused to ratify the terms outlined by Mancinus and sent the commander back to Numantia naked and with his hands tied behind his back. The Numantines refused to receive him. Calpurnius Piso was the next general sent to Spain, but instead of attacking Numantia, he plundered Pallantia and spent winter in a camp in Carpetanin. By now, the Roman people were sick of the war, so the Senate was compelled to act.