On their return to the camp they assured the king of the favourable issue of their negotiations, and in the following night stabbed him while asleep in his tent.
The Lusitanians honoured the illustrious chief by an unparalleled funeral solemnity at which two hundred pairs of champions fought in the funeral games; and still more highly by the fact, that they did not renounce the struggle, but nominated Tautamus as their commander- in-chief in room of the fallen hero.

The plan projected by the latter for wresting Saguntum from the Romans was sufficiently bold; but the new general possessed neither the wise moderation nor the military skill of his predecessor.

The expedition utterly broke down, and the army on its return was attacked in crossing the Baetis and compelled to surrender unconditionally.

Thus was Lusitania subdued, far more by treachery and assassination on the part of foreigners and natives than by honourable war.
Numantia While the southern province was scourged by Viriathus and the Lusitanians, a second and not less serious war had, not without their help, broken out in the northern province among the Celtiberian nations.

The brilliant successes of Viriathus induced the Arevacae likewise in 610 to rise against the Romans; and for this reason the consul Quintus Caecilius Metellus, who was sent to Spain to relieve Maximus Aemilianus, did hot proceed to the southern province, but turned against the Celtiberians.