A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

1. P.RutiliusLupus, L. F. L. N., consul, with L. Julius Caesar, in B. C. 90, the year in which the Social or Marsic war broke out. [CAESAR, No. 9.] While his colleague was engaged against the Samnites, Lupus was to prosecute the war against the Marsi. He had chosen as his legate Marius, who was his relation, but he refused to listen to the advice of the veteran, who recommended him to accustom his soldiers to a little more training before he ventured to fight a battle. The enemy had taken up their position on the Liris under the command of Vettius Scato. Lupus divided his army into two bodies, one under his own command and the other under that of Marius, and threw two bridges across the river without experiencing any opposition from the enemy. Vettius Scato, with the main body of his forces, encamped opposite Marius, but during the night he concealed a strong detachment in some broken ground near the bridge of Lupus. Accordingly, when Lupus crossed the river on the following day, he was attacked by the troops in ambush, lost 8000 of his men, and died shortly afterwards of a wound which he had received in the battle. Marius was first informed of the calamity by the dead bodies of the Romans which floated down the river. The battle was fought on the festival of the Matralia, the 11th of June. (Ov. Fast. 6.563.) No consul was elected to supply the place of Lupuis, as his colleague was unable to come to Rome to hold the comitia. (Appian, App. BC 1.40, 43; Oros. 5.18; Vell. 2.15, 16; Liv. Epit.73; Plin. Nat. 2.29, s. 30; Flor. 3.18; Obsequ. 115; Cic. Font. 15.)