Quintus Servilius Caepio (consul 140 BC)


Quintus Servilius Caepio was a Roman statesman. The son of Gnaeus Servilius Caepio, he served as consul in 140 BC alongside Gaius Laelius Sapiens.
He conducted the Lusitanian War against Viriatus, succeeding his brother, Quintus Fabius Maximus Servilianus, who had already made a treaty with Viriatus but, being unfavorable to Roman interests, Caepio managed to nullify and declared open war against Viriatus. Caepio instigated a conspiracy against Viriatus, provided that this one seemed to be unbeatable on the battlefield. But when Viriatus' murderers claimed him the reward they were promised, Caepio ordered to kill them with a phrase that became famous: "Rome does not pay traitors". He treated his soldiers so poorly that at one time he was almost killed by his own cavalry.