# Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio Nasica

> ancient Roman consul and optimate

**Wikidata**: [Q316825](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q316825)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quintus_Caecilius_Metellus_Pius_Scipio)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/quintus-caecilius-metellus-pius-scipio-nasica

## Summary
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio Nasica was an ancient Roman consul and optimate who lived during the late Roman Republic. He was a prominent conservative politician who opposed Julius Caesar and supported the traditional aristocratic order of Rome.

## Biography
- Born: circa 99-95 BCE
- Nationality: Ancient Roman
- Education: Unknown
- Known for: Roman consul and conservative politician
- Employer(s): Roman Senate, military commands
- Field(s): Politics, military leadership

## Contributions
As a Roman consul and optimate, Metellus Scipio played a significant role in the political conflicts of the late Roman Republic. He commanded military forces against Julius Caesar during the civil war, serving as a key figure in the conservative faction that sought to preserve the traditional Roman Republic against Caesar's populist reforms. His military leadership included command of forces in Africa during the civil war period.

## FAQs
**What was Metellus Scipio's political affiliation?**
He was an optimate, the conservative faction in Roman politics that supported the traditional aristocratic order and opposed populist reforms.

**What was his most significant military role?**
He commanded Roman forces in Africa against Julius Caesar during the civil War, serving as one of Caesar's main opponents in the conflict.

**When did he live?**
He was born around 99-95 BCE and died in 46 BCE, living during the final decades of the Roman Republic.

## Why They Matter
Metellus Scipio represents the last generation of traditional Roman aristocrats who fought to preserve the Republic against the rise of one-man rule. His opposition to Caesar and his role in the civil war made him a key figure in the transition from Republic to Empire, embodying the conservative resistance to political change that ultimately failed but shaped the final chapter of Republican Rome.

## Notable For
- Roman consul during the late Republic
- Leader of the conservative optimate faction
- Military commander against Julius Caesar
- Symbol of traditional aristocratic resistance to political reform
- Participant in the final civil wars of the Roman Republic

## Body
### Early Life and Background
Born into the prestigious Caecilius Metellus family around 99-95 BCE, Metellus Scipio inherited a distinguished aristocratic lineage. His full name, Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio Nasica, reflects his connections to multiple noble Roman families. The "Pius" honorific was inherited from his adoptive father, Metellus Pius, while "Scipio Nasica" connected him to the legendary Scipio family.

### Political Career
As an optimate, Metellus Scipio aligned himself with the conservative aristocratic faction in Roman politics. The optimates sought to maintain the traditional power structures of the Republic, opposing the populist reforms championed by leaders like Julius Caesar and his supporters. His political career placed him at the center of the growing conflict between the traditional aristocracy and the rising power of military strongmen.

### Military Leadership
During the civil war between Julius Caesar and the Republican faction, Metellus Scipio emerged as a key military commander. He was appointed to lead Roman forces in Africa, where he coordinated resistance against Caesar's growing power. His command in Africa represented one of the last major military efforts to preserve the traditional Republic against Caesar's forces.

### Role in the Civil War
Metellus Scipio's opposition to Caesar made him a central figure in the final years of the Republic. He joined forces with other Republican leaders like Cato the Younger and Pompey the Great in their resistance to Caesar's political dominance. His military command in Africa became crucial as the Republican forces sought to maintain control of key provinces against Caesar's advancing armies.

### Legacy and Historical Significance
As one of the last prominent optimates, Metellus Scipio's career symbolizes the final struggle of traditional Roman aristocracy against the forces of political change. His death in 46 BCE, following Caesar's victory, marked the effective end of organized Republican resistance. His life and career illustrate the transformation of Roman politics from a system of aristocratic competition to one dominated by military strongmen, ultimately leading to the establishment of the Roman Empire.

## References

1. Digital Prosopography of the Roman Republic
2. The Magistrates of the Roman Republic
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013