Quintus Labienus

Who was Quintus Labienus?

Quintus Labienus, the son of Titus Labienus, was a Roman republican general, later in the service of Parthia. After the then main political power in Rome, Julius Caesar, was murdered by a conspiracy in 44 BC, Labienus took the side of the pro-republic conspirators, lead by Brutus and Cassius, the latter whom he served in the capacity of an ambassador to the Parthians. After Brutus and Cassius fled east to Macedonia and were defeated there in the Battle of Philippi by Caesar's imperialist successors, Labienus joined the Parthians.

The Parthians invaded the Roman territories in 40 BC, led by Pacorus and Labienus. The Parthian army crossed the Euphrates and attacked Apamea. The attack on Apamea failed but Labienus was able to entice the Roman garrisons around Syria to rally to his cause. The combined Romano-Parthian army then proceeded to defeat Mark Antony's governor L. Decidius Saxa in a pitched battle and took Apamea. After the Roman defeat at Apamea, the Parthians split their army. Pacorus turned south and conquered the Levant from the Phoenician coast through Palestine. Labienus turned north to follow Saxa, whom he defeated and killed in Cilicia.