Lucius Decidius Saxa
was a Spaniard whom Julius
Caesar elevated to the rank of tribune of the Roman people [plebs],
much to the dismay of patricians like Cicero. After Caesar's
assassination (44 BCE),
the new triumvirs sent him & Norbanus Flaccus with eight
legions to regain the eastern provinces from Brutus & Cassius.
They blocked the assassins' forces in Macedonia until Marc
Antony & Octavian
arrived with reinforcements. After the battle of Philippi (42 BCE),
Antony left him as governor of Syria when he went to Egypt to
join Cleopatra (41 BCE).
Within a year, however, he was decisively defeated by republican
& Parthian forces led by Cassius' ally,
Quintus Labienus & Parthian crown prince, Pacorus. The
rout was so complete that not only was Saxa killed but the
Parthians seized the standards of the Roman legions. Saxa's
defeat allowed the Parthian conquest to extend to Judea, forcing
Herod to flee
to Rome & prompting Antony to launch his campaigns
against Parthia.
References:
Cassius Dio, Roman
History
47.35-36; 48.24-26.
Livy,
History of Rome [summary
of book
127].
Cicero, Philippics
11.12;
13.27.
Other resources on line:
Perspective on the
World of Jesus 