Pompey
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus was born on the 29th of September in 106 BC within the region of Picenum. He entered a military career while still young, serving alongside his father during the Social War that raged from 91 to 87 BC. His father, Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo, held senatorial status and had completed the traditional cursus honorum by becoming consul in 89 BC. Strabo acquired a reputation for greed and political duplicity before dying in 87 BC under suspicious circumstances. Pompey faced trial as his legal heir regarding alleged embezzlement committed by his father. He secured acquittal after agreeing to marry the daughter of the presiding judge named Antistia.
In 83 BC, Sulla returned to Italy with an army to reclaim control of Rome. Pompey raised a full legion from among his father's old clients and veterans in Picenum. He marched south to join Sulla at Brundisium when the dictator landed in the spring of that year. The Roman government sent three separate armies to stop their union but failed to prevent the meeting. Pompey attacked one of these forces and routed it completely. Sulla greeted him with the title Magnus, meaning victorious general, after his boyhood hero Alexander the Great. This early success allowed Pompey to advance directly to his first consulship without following standard political steps.
Pirates operated throughout the Mediterranean during the late second century BC, raiding as far as Ostia, Rome's port, in 68 BC. They kidnapped two senators and formed temporary alliances with enemies like Sertorius and Mithridates. Aulus Gabinius proposed the Lex Gabinia de piratis persequendis in 67 BC to grant Pompey proconsular authority for three years. This law gave him power over any province within 50 miles of the Mediterranean along with significant financial resources. Fifteen legates received specific areas to patrol while he secured the grain route to Rome.
Pompey spread his forces across the Mediterranean to prevent pirates from escaping by moving elsewhere. His fleets won control of the western Mediterranean in just 40 days before moving eastward. He led a decisive assault on their stronghold at Coracaesium, winning the Battle of Korakesion and concluding the war in only three months. Most opponents surrendered without fighting thanks to his reputation for clemency. These communities retained strong attachment to both Rome and Pompey after receiving lands in cities devastated during the Mithridatic War. Soli was renamed Pompeiopolis while others were sent to towns in Libya and Calabria.
In 62 BC, Pompey paid his troops bonuses totaling around 16,000 talents before dismissing them upon arrival at Brundisium. His journey to Rome drew huge crowds wherever he stopped despite divided opinion in the Senate. He was awarded a third triumph for his achievements in Asia Minor, celebrated on his 45th birthday in 61 BC. The Senate refused to ratify treaties agreed by Pompey as part of his settlement of the East. Opposition came from Cato the Younger and Metellus Celer whose sister Mucia had recently been divorced by Pompey.
Julius Caesar sought Pompey's endorsement for the consulship in 59 BC to harness his influence with the urban electorate. With additional support from Crassus, Caesar became one of two consuls for that year alongside Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus. This alliance allowed Caesar to help pass legislation sponsored by Pompey and Crassus while keeping them aligned against their rivals. Pompey's influence rested on his reputation as a military commander and popularity with the Roman people. Crassus' wealth enabled him to construct extensive patronage networks though lacking essential military clout. Their informal political alliance known as the First Triumvirate countered-balance the optimates.
When civil war began in 49 BC, Caesar possessed no navy and only three understrength legions while Pompey held all resources of the Roman state. His position proved weaker than it seemed since he served merely as an advisor to many senators who preferred negotiation or regarded him with suspicion. Cicero rejected requests to help with recruitment while Cato refused command of Sicily vital for controlling Rome's grain supply. Plans to defend Italy failed due to the speed with which Caesar moved directly on Rome with minimal resistance.
Pompey abandoned Rome ordering all senators and public officials to accompany him southward to Brundisium. He transported troops across the Adriatic to Dyrrhachium in Thessaly where they established fortified camps along the River Apus. Neither commander wanted hostilities initially since Caesar was too weak militarily while Pompey preferred starving opponents into submission. Mark Antony crossed the Adriatic with four more legions landing at Nymphaeum north of Dyrrhachium in late March 48 BC. Pompey tried to prevent the two Caesarian armies from linking up but withdrew unwillingly when caught between them. Caesar outmaneuvered Pompey and marched toward Dyrrhachium again before eventually moving south to Pharsalus.
Pompey escaped from the battlefield making his way to Mytilene where he reunited with his wife Cornelia. Most Eastern allies present had either been killed or captured during the conflict. The main absentee was fourteen-year-old Ptolemy XIII ruler of Egypt who engaged in bitter civil war with Cleopatra VII. Pompey sailed from Cyprus with a small fleet arriving at Pelusium on the 28th of September 48 BC. When he went ashore to greet an official delegation, Lucius Septimius killed him as a Roman officer serving in the Egyptian army.
His body was cremated by two servants while the head remained kept as evidence for potential future use. One suggestion holds that Ptolemy feared Pompey planned to seize control especially since many Egyptian officers were Roman mercenaries like Septimius. His head later returned to Cornelia for burial at his villa located in the Alban Hills. This ignominious death prompted Cicero to write that his life outlasted his power. The event marked the end of his political career and triggered immediate consequences throughout Rome regarding the balance of power between Caesar and remaining senatorial factions.
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Common questions
When and where was Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus born?
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus was born on the 29th of September in 106 BC within the region of Picenum. He entered a military career while still young, serving alongside his father during the Social War that raged from 91 to 87 BC.
How did Sulla give Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus the title Magnus?
Sulla greeted him with the title Magnus after his early success routing one of three Roman armies sent to stop their union. The dictator bestowed this name meaning victorious general after his boyhood hero Alexander the Great following the events of 83 BC.
What law granted Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus authority over pirates in 67 BC?
Aulus Gabinius proposed the Lex Gabinia de piratis persequendis in 67 BC to grant Pompey proconsular authority for three years. This law gave him power over any province within 50 miles of the Mediterranean along with significant financial resources to secure the grain route to Rome.
Why did Julius Caesar seek endorsement from Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus in 59 BC?
Julius Caesar sought Pompey's endorsement for the consulship in 59 BC to harness his influence with the urban electorate. With additional support from Crassus, Caesar became one of two consuls for that year alongside Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus.
Who killed Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus on the 28th of September 48 BC?
Lucius Septimius killed him as a Roman officer serving in the Egyptian army when he went ashore to greet an official delegation at Pelusium. His body was cremated by two servants while the head remained kept as evidence for potential future use.