# Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius

> Ancient Roman consul, general and statesman. A leader of the Optimates

**Wikidata**: [Q313680](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q313680)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quintus_Caecilius_Metellus_Pius)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/quintus-caecilius-metellus-pius

## Summary

Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius was an Ancient Roman consul, general, and statesman who served as a prominent leader of the Optimates, the conservative faction of the Roman Senate. He was a citizen of Ancient Rome and held significant military and political authority during the late Roman Republic. He died in 64 BC.

## Biography

- **Born:** Date and place not specified in source material
- **Died:** 64 BC
- **Nationality:** Ancient Rome
- **Education:** Not specified in source material
- **Known for:** Serving as Roman consul, general, and statesman; leadership of the Optimates
- **Employer(s):** Not specified in source material
- **Field(s):** Politics and military service

## Contributions

Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius contributed to Roman political and military life as both a general and a statesman. He held the office of consul, one of the highest elected positions in the Roman Republic. As a leader of the Optimates, he played a central role in the conservative political movement that sought to preserve the authority of the Roman Senate against popularist reforms. His identity is documented on Roman Republican coinage (catalogued under ID `q_c_m_p_i_rrc`), indicating his prominence was sufficient to appear on currency of the era. He is referenced in connection with Aulus Licinius Archias, a 1st century BC Greek writer, suggesting overlap in the literary and political circles of the late Republic. The municipality of Medellín in the province of Badajoz, Spain (inception circa 75 BC) is listed among related entities, consistent with Roman military activity in the Iberian Peninsula during his lifetime.

## FAQs

**What was Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius's role in Roman politics?**
He was a consul, statesman, and a leading figure of the Optimates, the conservative senatorial faction in the Roman Republic.

**When did Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius die?**
He died in 64 BC, as recorded in structured biographical data.

**Was Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius involved in military affairs?**
Yes, he served as a general and is classified as military personnel in addition to his political career.

**Is Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius documented in major reference works?**
Yes, he is catalogued in numerous authority files including VIAF (54537220), the Encyclopaedia Britannica (`biography/Quintus-Caecilius-Metellus-Pius`), the German National Library (GND ID 102399476), and many other biographical databases.

## Why They Matter

Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius represents a critical figure in the final decades of the Roman Republic, embodying the Optimate resistance to the populares during an era of intensifying political conflict. His dual role as both consul and general placed him among the highest echelons of Roman power. The fact that his image and name appear on Roman Republican coinage reflects the institutional recognition of his influence. His connection to Aulus Licinius Archias, a Greek writer of the 1st century BC, situates him within the broader intellectual and cultural milieu of the late Republic. The enduring cataloguing of his identity across dozens of modern bibliographic and historical databases — including VIAF, GND, Britannica, CERL, and others — demonstrates his lasting significance to historians of antiquity.

## Notable For

- Holding the office of consul in the Roman Republic
- Serving as a general in the Roman military
- Leadership of the Optimates, the conservative senatorial faction
- Appearing on Roman Republican coinage (ID: `q_c_m_p_i_rrc`)
- Being documented in over 30 sitelinks across reference platforms
- Inclusion in the Encyclopaedia Britannica as a biographical subject
- Association with the municipality of Medellín in Badajoz, Spain
- Connection to the Greek writer Aulus Licinius Archias

## Body

### Identity and Origins

Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius was a human (Homo sapiens) and a citizen of Ancient Rome, the civilization that began growing on the Italian Peninsula from the 8th century BC (traditionally dated to 753 BC). His full name, as recorded in native language records, is Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius. He belonged to the prominent Caecilia Metelli family, one of the most influential plebeian nobility lines in the Roman Republic.

### Political Career

His primary occupation was that of a politician — defined as a person who holds or seeks positions in government. He achieved the consulship, the highest elected office in Rome, and served as a statesman. He is most notably identified as a leader of the Optimates, the conservative faction within the Roman Senate that opposed the populares and sought to maintain traditional senatorial authority.

### Military Service

In addition to his political career, he served as military personnel — among those who serve in an organized armed military force. His rank of general indicates senior military command. The related entity Medellín, a municipality in Badajoz, Spain (country: Spain, inception circa 75 BC), is connected to him, which aligns with known Roman military campaigns in Hispania during the Sertorian War period.

### Numismatic Record

Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius is documented in Roman Republican coinage records under the identifier `q_c_m_p_i_rrc`, confirming that coinage was minted bearing his name or likeness, a marker of significant public standing in the Roman world.

### Death

He died in 64 BC, as recorded in structured biographical data (P570: -0064-00-00T00:00:00Z).

### Modern Documentation

His biographical record is extensive and preserved across numerous authority control systems and databases:

- VIAF: 54537220
- GND (German National Library): 102399476
- Freebase: /m/03bx5yp
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: `biography/Quintus-Caecilius-Metellus-Pius`
- NTA ID: 070033099
- U.S. Congress Biographical Directory: 412203
- BNB IDs: 177088, 97145
- CERL Thesaurus: I00736013
- CANTIC: cnp00285191
- Church of England cleric records: 23664/quintus-caecilius-metellus-pius
- Alvin: alvin-person:25662
- PRDL: 1889
- Wiki Commons category: Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius
- Image file: Quintus Metellus Pius.jpg

His Wikipedia entry (title: "Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius") has 30 sitelinks across language editions, and his Wikidata description reads: "Ancient Roman consul, general and statesman. A leader of the Optimates."

### Associated Figures

He is linked to Aulus Licinius Archias, a 1st century BC Greek writer (occupations catalogued as Q49757 and Q26237228; citizenship: Q1747689), suggesting a connection within the literary and political networks of the late Roman Republic.

## References

1. Digital Prosopography of the Roman Republic
2. The Magistrates of the Roman Republic
3. Nomisma
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. CERL Thesaurus