Hirpinia Modia

Hirpinia Modia
Born	c. 768 BCE Constanza, Pantelleria, Sabrian Empire
Died	c. 683 BCE Cesena, Sarissita, Sabrian Empire
Resting place	Legates’ March, Padova
Occupation	General, Politician
Office	Legatus (739 BCE – 697 BCE)
Opponent(s)	Maximus Lupercus
Partner(s)	Metilia Gemella Veturia Deciana Quintis Maursus Tullus Virilis Epidia Mela
Children	Cassia Modia Lucius Modia
Relatives	Ramtha Modia
Military career
Allegiance	Sabrian Empire
Years of service	748 BCE – 714 BCE
Rank	Legatus
Conflicts	Italic Wars Modian Conflict Apullian Conquest Lirinya Campaign Siduri Campaign Eracura Campaign

Hirpinia Modia (c. 768 BCE – c. 683 BCE) was a Sabrian general and stateswoman known for serving as the third Legatus of the Sabrian Empire. She held a position as a senator of the Sabrian Senate for only a very brief time before being elected to the position of Legatus. Under her supervision, she implemented significant logistical and organizational reforms to the Sabrian armies and navies that made them some of the most sophisticated military institutions in antiquity. These reforms transformed the militia levies of the early Empire into the professional soldiery that characterized the territorial expansion of the Modian Era.

Having come from a very tragic and humble background, Hirpinia made a name for herself during the Italic Wars between Sabria and Italica, quickly rising through the ranks of the nascent Sabrian Army using both her poise and ferocity. She was seen as an important, even irreparable asset, and was given command of a legion in 744 BCE by Herius Varro, a member of the Senate’s inner circle who had been fighting against Italica for nearly a decade. Over the next two years, Hirpinia led the Empire through a string of military victories that effectively made her one of the most powerful military figures at the time. After assisting Herius in conquering Italica in 740 BCE, she was elected to the Sabrian Senate.

In 739 BCE, following the unexpected death of Atria Aurelia’s successor Mettius Arcadius, Hirpinia was appointed to the office of Legatus in a contentious election. Approximately 29 years old at the time, there existed significant opposition to her election by elder members of the Senate who saw her youth and brash temper as problematic for such a position of power. Despite her attempts at assuaging her opponents, she was forced to fight a brief two-year civil war which ended in 734 BCE with her victory. After consolidating her power and eliminating most opponents to her rule, Hirpinia began a program of social and governmental reforms while also militarily expanding the territory of the Empire. Her populist agenda drew ire from the Sabrian elite, some of whom conspired against her, but each unsuccessful attempt to overthrow her or remove her from office instead further secured her position.

Hirpinia became an accomplished author and historian; much of her written work survives and is one of few contemporary accounts of the Sabrian Empire at the time. She kept extensive notes which have helped modern historiographers to write detailed histories of Cacerta during antiquity. Although she never married, Hirpinia was known to have had several partners and eventually gave birth to two children. Both Cassia and her brother Lucius were born during her campaigns in Eracura; the identities of their fathers are not known.

After returning from several campaigns abroad, Hirpinia returned to Sabria and stepped down from frontline command of the military in 714 BCE. She continued to rule as Legatus for another seventeen years before retiring from office at the age of 71 and spent the remainder of her life in Cesena writing her memoirs and died in 683 BCE.

Hirpinia is considered by many to be one of the greatest military commanders of Cacertian history and her reforms to the military remained in place through the entirety of the Sabrian Empire’s existence. She became a legendary hero and was featured prominently throughout the traditions of Cacertian cultures, in particular the Mos Maiorum’s Cult of Transformation. Her military achievements and enduring, unprecedented success in battle throughout her military career made her a popular measure against which many Cacertian military leaders would compare themselves; her tactics are still taught and analyzed in Cacertian military academies today.