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Marcellus' duel with Virdumarus, illustration from 'Hutchinson's History of the Nations', early 1900s
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Combat de Romains et de Gaulois by Évariste Vital Luminais
The painting depicts the single combat duel between Roman general Marcus Claudius Marcellus and Gaulish leader Viridomarus, during the Battle of Clastidium. With Marcellus earning the spolia opima by killing Viridiomarus in single combat.
This battlefield was the stage for Marcellus’ confrontation with the Gallic king, Viridomarus, which cemented his place in history.
The confrontation, as told by Plutarch, is so heavy in detail that one might question the veracity of his narration. Plutarch recounts that, prior to the battle, Viridomarus spotted Marcellus, who wore commander's insignia on his armour, and rode out to meet him. Across the battlefield, Marcellus viewed the beautiful armour on the back of the enemy riding toward him. Marcellus concluded that this was the nicest armour, which he had previously prayed would be given by him to the gods. The two engaged in combat whereupon, Marcellus, “by a thrust of his spear which pierced his adversary's breastplate, and by the impact of his horse in full career, threw him, still living, upon the ground, where, with a second and third blow, he promptly killed him.” Marcellus extracted the armour from his fallen foe, upon which he pronounced it as the spolia opima. The spolia opima, meaning richest spoils, is known in Roman history as the most prestigious and honourable prize that a general can earn. Only a general who kills the leader of the opposing army in single combat may be considered to have gained the spolia opima.
After he had slain the formidable warrior, whom he later learned was the king, Marcellus dedicated the armour, or spolia opima, to Jupiter Feretrius, as he had promised before the battle. Herein lies a wrinkle in Plutarch's retelling of the event. When Marcellus first saw the finely dressed warrior, he did not recognise him as a king, but merely a man with the nicest armour. But immediately following the battle, Marcellus prayed to Jupiter Feretrius, saying that he had killed a king or ruler. This inconsistency indicates that Plutarch's story may have been exaggerated for dramatic effect, causing discrepancies. Furthermore, Plutarch had probably written the account to glorify Marcellus as a hero of Rome, instead of as a record of history. Polyb. 2.34 does not at all mention the spolia opima in relation to Marcellus.
The spolia opima, meaning richest spoils, is known in Roman history as the most prestigious and honourable prize that a general can earn. Only a general who kills the leader of the opposing army in single combat may be considered to have gained the spolia opima.
