Thanks to the Asterix and Obelix comics we have an image of the Gauls as a people who put up great resistance to the Roman occupation, the reality is that the "irreducible" were the pre-Roman peoples who occupied the peninsula (Iberians, Celts...).
It took Rome 8 years to occupy Gaul and 2 centuries to take what would later become Hispania.
In this post we are going to focus on the resistance of the Arévacos (Celtiberian people) and their capital, Numancia . From 153 BC The Romans tried to take Numancia, but the brave Arévacos rejected them time and time again. The consuls Metellus, Quintus Pompey and Pompilius Lenas had to return to Rome empty-handed and humiliated by "savages".
But the one who got the worst of it was Hostilio Mancino . In 137 BC he ordered, like everyone else, to besiege the city but faced with the impossibility of taking it and the news of the arrival of troops from other Celtiberian and Cantabrian towns, they lifted the siege and withdrew. Numantinos, grown, came out after them and defeated them. Tired of fighting and blood they offered Hostilio Mancinus a peace treaty; the consul, logically, accepted and saved his life. But the treaty had to be ratified by the Roman Senate; so Hostilius left for Rome.
Roman Senate
The Senate was outraged by the peace treaty and forced the consul Hostilio to appear naked before the gates of Numancia and remain so for a day.
There he presented himself, at the gates of Numancia, the poor naked Hostilio in view of all the defenders of the city. The Numantines left him alone, he had enough.
Hostility at the feet of Numancia (¿?)
Photo:Ezequiel Demaestri.