Quintus Cecilius Bass

The origin and beginning of a career are unknown. Appian gives two versions of the beginning of the uprising. According to one of them, Bass was among the commanders of Sextus Caesar , appointed governor of Syria , and led the rebellion of legionaries, dissatisfied with the rudeness and cruelty of Sextus ^[1] . According to another, supported by Dion Cassius , he served with Pompey , after the defeat at Farsalus fled to Tire , and hid there for some time ^{[2] [3]} . The second hypothesis is considered more preferable, since in addition to Dion Cassius it is confirmed by Josephus and, indirectly, Strabo ^[4] .

Gathering a certain number of Pompeyans, also hiding in Syria, in 47 BC. e. Bass began campaigning among the legion of Sextus Caesar, spreading rumors that the dictator Caesar was defeated in Africa by Scipio and Cato . When the governor found out about his military preparations, Bass announced that he was gathering mercenaries to help Mithridates of Pergamon to march on the Bosporus . Then he composed a forged letter in which Scipio reported on Caesar's death and on the appointment of Bass as new governor. Some of the legionnaires went over to his side, killing Sextus Caesar, the rest fled to Cilicia ^[3] .

Cecilius tried to catch up with them, but could not, and returned to Syria, where he strengthened at Apamea . According to Strabo, Bass had only two cohorts in Apamea, but managed to succeed, as he received support from the leaders of neighboring tribes: Yamblichus, who ruled the Emissens, Ptolemy , who owned Chalkida , Massius and Iturea , and Alhedamn, the king of the Arab tribe of the Rambeans, who roamed after the Euphrates ^[5] . In addition, Bass established contacts with the Galatian tetrarch Deyotarom ^[6] .

Caesar entrusted the suppression of the uprising to the governor of Cilicia, Quintus Cornificius , but he, apparently, did not have time to do anything, since the term of his viceroyalty was coming to an end ^[7] .

Bass formed another legion of locals and slaves, and with these forces withstood the siege of the troops of Gaius Antistius Veta , who was either the legate of Sextus Caesar, or the new governor of Syria. The Romans were helped by the ruler of Edom Antipater , who sent an army led by his sons ^[8] . By the end of 45 BC e. Guy Antistius was already preparing to take possession of Apamea, but then the Arabs and the Parthian prince Pacor came to the aid of Bass, and the Romans had to retreat with great losses. In his defeat Antistius blamed the governor of Cilicia, Volcius Tull , who did not provide sufficient assistance ^[9] .

In the winter of 45 - 44 years BC. e. the Parthian detachment left Syria ^[10] . The legate of Caesar Stacius Murc arrived in the province with three legions, and again began the siege of Apamea. He did not succeed and asked for help from the governor of Bithynia Marcius Crispus . He brought three more legions, and the siege lasted until the spring of 43 BC. e., when Gaius Cassius arrived in Syria, who received from the Senate proconsular empires over all eastern provinces. Murk and Crispus transferred their troops to him, one of Bass's legions also went over to his side ^[11] , but Bass himself did not want to obey, according to Cassius, “vilely refused to transfer” the second legion, and intended to defend himself in Apamea. However, the soldiers themselves sent the parliamentarians to Cassius and switched to his side ^[12] .

The further fate of Cecilius Bass is unknown. However, the French researcher F. Inard suggested that by the time of the formation of the second triumvirate, Quintus could have been in Rome, where he was soon included in the transcripts ^[13] .

• Münzer F. Caecilius 36 // Paulys Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft (RE). - Stuttgart : JB Metzler, 1897. - Band III, 1. - Kol. 1198–1199 [1] .