The Roman part of Spain was divided into two provinces and Sertorius defeated the governors of both. Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius was sent out from Rome against Sertorius (79), but Metellus' conventional tactics proved useless against the guerrilla tactics Sertorius used. When, for example, Metellus laid siege to a city of the Langobritae tribe, Sertorius had water smuggled into the city and then forced Metellus to retreat by harassing his foraging parties.
After his initial successes Sertorius was joined by more Romans unhappy with the new order of things. They were led by Perpenna Vento, but threatened to desert to Sertorius when they heard that Pompey was on his way(77). Perpenna had no choice but to acquiesce in his men?s decision and join Sertorius.
Hitherto, Sertorius' success had been ascribed to Metellus' age and weakness, but he soon proved to be a match even for Pompey. Although when Pompey first arrived some amongst the locals were tempted to change sides, Sertorius' resounding victory at Lauron changed their minds back again. Sertorius was besieging Lauron when Pompey arrived and demanded that Sertorius surrender. Sertorius pointed out the troops he'd left in reserve who were in a good position to surround Pompey and trap him between Sertorius' forces. Lauron surrendered. Sertorius let the people go but burnt down the city, and Pompey was unable to stop him. In one incident during the seige, one of Sertorius' men tried to rape one of the inhabitants but she managed to blind him. When Sertorius heard what had happened he had the whole cohort executed to punish their brutality.
It soon became evident that any defeats Sertorius' men suffered were when other generals were in command. In a battle at Sucro for example, Sertorius first took command of his right wing, and then switched to his left wing when Pompey put it to flight. Sertorius rallied his men and they turned on the pursuing forces under Pompey. Pompey himself only escaped capture because Sertorius' North African troops started fighting amongst themselves over the gold ornaments worn by Pompey's horse. It was now Sertorius' right wing that needed help, so Sertorius changed back to lead them and defeated Pompey's left.
When fighting stopped for winter, Pompey was forced to send back to Rome for more money and supplies, threatening to come and get them with his army if none were forthcoming. Metellus in the meantime offered a reward for anyone who killed Sertorius, which was taken as an admission that he could not defeat Sertorius by more conventional means.
