itius

Itius, also known as Marcus Itius, was a Roman magistrate and military officer active in the late 2nd century BCE. He served as a legate under the consul Quintus Caecilius Metellus Numidicus during the Jugurthine War (112–105 BCE).

His most notable involvement was in the crucial stages of the war against Jugurtha, the king of Numidia. Itius played a significant role in the efforts to capture Jugurtha, particularly under the command of Metellus. Historical accounts suggest that Itius was instrumental in orchestrating the betrayal of Jugurtha by his father-in-law, Bocchus I of Mauretania, in collaboration with Gaius Marius, who had taken over command of the Roman forces from Metellus.

While the exact details of his actions are sometimes intertwined with those of other figures like Marius and Sulla, Itius's participation highlights the complex political and military landscape of the late Roman Republic. His career exemplifies the roles played by Roman equestrians and lower-ranking military officials in the expansion and consolidation of Roman power. Information about his life after the Jugurthine War is scarce, but his involvement in such a prominent conflict marks him as a figure of historical interest within the context of Roman military history.