Quintus Caecilius Metellus Numidicus

Quintus Caecilius Metellus Numidicus (ca 160 BC – 91 BC) was the leader of the conservative faction of the Roman Senate and a bitter enemy of Gaius Marius. He served as consul for 109 BC, and was the chief commander in the Jugurthine War in Numidia until Marius displaced him. He later became a censor, entering into exile in opposition to Marius. Metellus Numidicus enjoyed a reputation for integrity in an era when Roman politics was increasingly corrupt.

Born the son of Lucius Caecilius Metellus Calvus, in his youth he was sent to Athens, where he studied under Carneades, celebrated philosopher and great master of oratory. He returned ostensibly cultured and with brilliant oratorical skills.

He was a Quaestor in 126 BC, a Tribune in 121 BC, an Aedile in 118 BC, a Praetor in 115 BC, Governor of Sicily in 114 BC and elected Consul in 109 BC. Accused of extortion on leaving his governorship, the judges were so convinced of his good character that they dismissed the case against him unexamined.

Metellus was generous in his support of the arts, sponsoring his friend the poet Archias. Cicero spoke highly of Metellus' oratorical skills.

As consul (with Marcus Junius Silanus), he led the war in Numidia against Jugurtha. The war dragged out into a long and seemingly endless campaign as the Romans tried to inflict a decisive defeat on Jugurtha. Frustrated at the apparent lack of action, Metellus' lieutenant Marius returned to Rome to seek election as Consul. Marius won the election, and returned to Numidia and to take control of the war. Metellus gained an important victory over Jugurtha at the Battle of the Muthul. Metellus stayed in Numidia for another year, laying siege to Jugurthine holdouts, following which he returned to Rome. His second-in-command Marius, designing to displace Metellus as commander in Numidia, spreading rumours that Metellus was dragging out the Jugurthine War so as not to have to give up his command; Marius himself also obtained election to the consulship for 107 BC, taking Numidia as his province. On his return to Rome, Metellus was surprised by the demonstrations of enthusiasm and recognition which he received from a faction of Senators and the people who did not support Marius. The Senate minted coins in Metellus' honour and he celebrated a triumph, acquiring the cognomen Numidicus, to Marius' irritation.

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