For the Glory of Rome by For the Glory of Rome. A History of Warriors & Warfare (2007)

Author:For the Glory of Rome. A History of Warriors & Warfare (2007) [Retail]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HISTORY / Ancient / Rome
ISBN: 9781473898783
Publisher: Casemate Publishers & Book Distributors, LLC
Published: 2017-06-29T00:00:00+00:00

Sergius was not deterred by missing hands or numerous wounds:

On four occasions he fought with his left hand alone, and two horses were killed under him. He had a right hand made out of iron and attached to the stump, after which he fought a battle, and raised the siege of Cremona, defended Placentia and captured twelve of the enemy’s camps in Gaul [Gallic north Italy]. (Pliny, Natural History, 7.104–5)

Sergius’ grandson later issued coins celebrating his exploits. He is depicted on a charger, and with his left hand he brandishes a sword and the long hair of a severed head. As we have seen, taking an opponent’s head was often the final act of single or one-on-one combats and it would not be surprising if some of Sergius Silus’ many wounds were sustained in duels against Gauls in northern Italy.

As we saw above, honourable scars could have advantages in the Roman world. Marcus Sergius was covered in them, but in 197 BC his political opponents attempted to have him barred from the office of city praetor on the grounds that such a mutilated man was unfit to perform the religious rites associated with the praetorship. They failed.47

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