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Pompey: the story on HearLore | HearLore
Pompey
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus was born on the 29th of September 106 BC in Picenum, the eldest son of a provincial nobleman named Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo. While his father was the first of his branch to achieve senatorial status in Rome, completing the traditional cursus honorum and becoming consul in 89 BC, Strabo was known for his greed, political duplicity, and military ruthlessness. Pompey began his military career serving alongside his father during the Social War between 91 and 87 BC, but his true ascent began when Strabo died in 87 BC under mysterious circumstances, possibly murdered by his own soldiers. Before his death, Strabo had been accused of embezzlement, and as his legal heir, Pompey was put on trial for the alleged crime. He was acquitted, reportedly after agreeing to marry the judge's daughter, Antistia, a union that would be short-lived and politically expedient.
The political landscape of Rome was in turmoil when Sulla returned from the East in 83 BC to reclaim control of the Senate, sparking a civil war. In the year prior to Sulla's return, Pompey had raised and equipped a full legion from among his father's old clients and veterans in Picenum. When Sulla landed in Brundisium, Pompey led his legion south to join him, routing one of three government armies sent to stop their union. Sulla greeted him with the title Magnus, meaning victorious general, a title that would become part of his name. At some point in 83 BC, Sulla sent Pompey back to Picenum to raise more troops, and he later served as Metellus's cavalry commander in Cisalpine Gaul. Pompey's early success as a general enabled him to advance directly to his first consulship without following the traditional cursus honorum, a move that shocked the Roman political establishment and marked him as a man who operated outside the bounds of tradition.
The Teenage Butcher
Pompey's ruthlessness earned him the nickname adulescentulus carnifex, or teenage butcher, from his adversaries. After Sulla's victory at the Battle of Sacriportus, Pompey and Metellus defeated Carbo's lieutenant, the praetor Gaius Carrinas, in a six-hour battle at the river Aesis. When Carbo himself blockaded them, Pompey's cavalry harassed the retreating forces, and later, his cavalry caught Censorinus's fleeing troops outside their base at Sena Gallica, defeating them and plundering the town. Pompey's actions were not limited to the battlefield; he also played a key role in the suppression of Lepidus's rebellion in 77 BC. When Lepidus marched on Rome, Pompey raised troops from among his veterans in Picenum and moved north to besiege Mutina, the capital of Cisalpine Gaul. The town was held by Lepidus's ally Marcus Junius Brutus, who surrendered after a lengthy siege and was assassinated the next day, allegedly on Pompey's orders.
Pompey's reputation for brutality was further cemented during the Sertorian War in Hispania. When Sertorius was assassinated in 73 or 72 BC by Perperna, who then assumed control of the rebel army, Pompey engaged Perperna in battle and defeated him swiftly at the Battle near Osca. Perperna was captured and attempted to persuade Pompey to spare him by giving over Sertorius's correspondence, which allegedly contained proof of communications between the rebel leader and leading men in Rome. Pompey burned the letters unread and executed Perperna, showing a lack of animosity towards his former opponents, which extended his patronage throughout Hispania and into southern Gaul. His actions in Sicily and Africa, where he defeated and killed Ahenobarbus and executed the Numidian king Hiarbas, further solidified his reputation as a ruthless and effective commander.
When was Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus born and where was he born?
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus was born on the 29th of September 106 BC in Picenum. He was the eldest son of a provincial nobleman named Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo.
Why did Sulla give Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus the title Magnus?
Sulla gave Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus the title Magnus meaning victorious general after Pompey led his legion south to join him in 83 BC. This title became part of his name and marked his early military success.
How did Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus defeat the Mediterranean pirates?
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus defeated the Mediterranean pirates in just 40 days by spreading his forces throughout the region to prevent escape. He secured the grain route to Rome and led a decisive assault on their stronghold in Coracaesium to conclude the war in three months.
What happened to Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus at Pelusium in Egypt?
Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus was killed by Lucius Septimius on the 28th of September 48 BC when he went ashore to greet an official delegation in Egypt. His body was cremated by two servants while his head was kept as evidence.
When did the Battle of Pharsalus occur and what were the casualty numbers?
The Battle of Pharsalus occurred on the 9th of August 48 BC. Pompey commanded an army of around 38,000 men against Caesar's 22,000 men including 7,000 cavalry to 1,000.
In 68 BC, pirates operating throughout the Mediterranean had raided as far as Ostia, Rome's port, and kidnapped two senators, causing general outrage. Prompted by Pompey, Aulus Gabinius, tribune of the plebs in 67 BC, proposed the Lex Gabinia de piratis persequendis, giving him a mandate for their suppression. The law granted him proconsular authority for three years in any province within 50 miles of the Mediterranean, along with the power to appoint legates and significant financial resources. Pompey spread his forces throughout the Mediterranean to prevent the pirates from escaping a Roman fleet by moving elsewhere. Fifteen legates were given specific areas to patrol, while he secured the grain route to Rome. These measures won him control of the western Mediterranean in just 40 days, after which his fleets moved to the east, forcing the pirates back to their bases in Cilicia.
Pompey led the decisive assault on their stronghold in Coracaesium, winning the Battle of Korakesion and concluding the war in only three months. Most of his opponents surrendered without fighting, thanks to Pompey's reputation for clemency. They were granted lands in cities devastated during the Mithridatic War, notably Soli, renamed Pompeiopolis, and Dyme in Greece, with others sent to towns in Libya and Calabria. These communities retained a strong attachment to both Rome and Pompey. His success against the pirates demonstrated his ability to organize and execute large-scale military operations, and it further enhanced his reputation as a master strategist and organizer. The war against the pirates was a significant turning point in Pompey's career, establishing him as a dominant figure in Roman politics and military affairs.
The Eastern Architect
In 66 BC, Pompey used the tribunate to pass the lex Manilia, giving him extensive powers throughout Asia Minor in order to defeat Mithridates, in addition to those granted by the lex Gabinia. The optimates were privately horrified that one man should hold so much influence, but fearful of his popularity allowed the measure to pass. Pompey agreed an alliance with Phraates III, king of Parthia, whom he persuaded to invade Armenia. When Mithridates offered a truce, Lucullus argued the war was over, but Pompey demanded concessions which could not be accepted. Outnumbered, Mithridates withdrew into Armenia, followed by Pompey, who defeated him at Lycus near the end of 66 BC. Mithridates and a small contingent escaped the battle, outstripped their pursuers, and reached Colchis on the Black Sea, where he took control of the Cimmerian Bosporus from its Roman-backed ruler, his son Machares, who later committed suicide.
In 64 BC, Pompey annexed the independent and wealthy cities of Syria, which were incorporated into a new Roman province. In the process, he acquired large amounts of money and prestige, as well as criticism from his opponents in Rome, who argued doing so exceeded his authority. Pompey's incursion further south, into Judea, was occasioned on account of its inhabitants, under the leadership of Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus II, having ravaged Phoenicia and Pompey wanting to bring a stop to it. The initial onslaught was disrupted by the Hasmonean Civil War, in which Pompey backed Hyrcanus II over his brother Aristobulus II. When he compelled the latter to surrender Jerusalem, its defenders took refuge in the Temple, which the Romans first stormed, then looted. Judea became a client kingdom ruled by Hyrcanus, while its northern section was incorporated into the Decapolis, a league of semi-autonomous cities. Both Judea and the League were made subordinate to the new province of Syria. These actions significantly increased Roman state income and presented Pompey with multiple opportunities to increase his personal wealth and patronage base.
The Triumvir's Marriage
Before his return to Italy in 62 BC, Pompey paid his troops bonuses totalling around 16,000 talents, but despite fears he intended to follow Sulla's example, they were dismissed upon arrival at Brundisium. His journey to Rome drew huge crowds wherever he stopped, showing that although opinion in the Senate was divided, Pompey remained as popular as ever with the masses. He was awarded a third triumph for his achievements in Asia Minor, celebrated on his 45th birthday in 61 BC. However, the Senate then refused to ratify the treaties agreed by Pompey as part of his settlement of the East. Opposition was led by the optimates Cato the Younger and Metellus Celer, whose sister Mucia had recently been divorced by Pompey, for reasons still disputed. They also defeated a bill to distribute farmland to his veterans, and landless members of the urban poor.
The situation changed when Marius' nephew Julius Caesar sought Pompey's endorsement for the consulship in 59 BC. A skilled, unscrupulous, and ambitious politician, Caesar used this alliance to harness Pompey's influence with the urban electorate. With additional support from Crassus, Caesar became one of the two consuls for 59 BC, the other being the optimate Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus. This meant Caesar could help pass legislation sponsored by Pompey and Crassus, while it was in his interest to keep them aligned, an important factor given the rivalry between his two patrons. Pompey's influence was based on his reputation as a military commander, and popularity with the Roman people. Crassus' wealth allowed him to construct extensive patronage networks, but he lacked the military clout essential for political success in the late Republican era. The alliance, known as the First Triumvirate, was cemented by Pompey's marriage to Caesar's daughter Julia in 59 BC, creating a powerful political bond that would shape the future of Rome.
The Fractured Alliance
In 54 BC, Caesar continued his conquest of Gaul, Crassus opened his campaign against the Parthians, and Pompey remained in Rome, where his wife Julia died in child birth in September. Contemporary sources suggest that combined with the death of Crassus and his son Publius at Carrhae in May 53 BC, this removed any obstacle to direct confrontation between Caesar and Pompey. Consular elections in 52 BC had to be suspended due to widespread violence. Seeking to end his alliance with Caesar, the optimate Bibulus proposed Pompey be elected sole consul, an unprecedented act backed by both Cato and the tribunate. Having restored order, Pompey married Cornelia, widow of Publius Crassus and daughter of Metellus Scipio Nasica, whom he appointed as his colleague for the last five months of the year.
As consul, Pompey helped enact legislation which some historians view as crucial to understanding the drift to war in 49 BC. Accused of using violence during his consulship in 59 BC, Caesar had previously been shielded by his proconsular immunity. With private support from Pompey, new laws made such prosecutions retrospective, which meant Caesar would probably be put on trial the moment he left Gaul and lost his Imperium. To avoid this, he had secured approval to stand for the consulship in 48 BC while still in Gaul, but another law backed by Pompey required electoral candidates to be physically present in Rome. Although the two continued to co-operate in public, Pompey clearly viewed his colleague as a threat, as did much of the Senate. Both consuls for 50 BC, Paullus and Gaius Claudius, were opponents of Caesar, as was Curio, a plebeian tribune. They initiated legislation to remove Caesar from his command in Gaul, who allegedly bypassed this by bribing Paullus and Curio. For whatever reason, Curio came up with an alternative proposal; Caesar and Pompey should disarm at the same time, or be declared enemies of the state. This was a clever move, since it was popular with those who wanted to avoid war, but unacceptable to the optimates who saw Caesar as a danger that had to be eliminated. Rejection made open conflict more likely, and the Senate agreed to fund a consular army, organised by Pompey.
The Battle of Pharsalus
When the war began, Caesar was a rebel with no navy and three understrength legions, while Pompey was backed by all the resources of the Roman state and his clients in the East. However, his position was weaker than it seemed, since he was simply an advisor to the Senate, many of whose members either preferred a negotiated solution, or regarded him with as much suspicion as Caesar. His military strategy had to be approved by the consuls, and he could only issue recommendations, which were not always followed. For example, Cicero rejected a request to help him with recruitment, and Cato refused to take command of Sicily, vital for control of Rome's grain supply. Plans to defend Italy were undone by the speed with which Caesar moved, advancing directly on Rome with minimal resistance. Although outnumbered, his troops were experienced veterans, while many of Pompey's were new recruits, a weakness made worse by lack of co-ordination. Cato's brother-in-law, the optimate leader Lucius Domitius, was cut off and captured in a hopeless defence of Corfinium, and his 13,000 men incorporated into Caesar's army.
Pompey had abandoned Rome, ordering all senators and public officials to accompany him as he withdrew south to Brundisium. From there, he transported his troops across the Adriatic to Dyrrhachium in Thessaly, an operation performed with almost complete success. Lacking ships to pursue him, Caesar first secured his rear by subduing Pompeian forces in Hispania, before returning to Rome in December 49 BC. This gave Pompey time to build an army nearly twice the size of his opponents', while his navy destroyed two fleets being built for Caesar, ensuring the Pompeians retained control of the sea lanes. Despite this, in January 48 BC Caesar managed to cross the Adriatic with seven legions and land in southern Albania. After capturing Oricum and Apollonia, he advanced on Pompey's main supply base at Dyrrhachium. The latter arrived in time to block the attempt, and establish a fortified camp on the other side of the River Apus, where the two armies remained until spring. Neither commander was anxious to begin hostilities, since Caesar was too weak militarily, while as with Mithridates, Pompey preferred to starve his opponent into submission. In late July, Pompey finally managed to break through part of Caesar's defensive lines, but Caesar cut his losses and withdrew to Apollonia. At this point Metellus Scipio arrived in Thessaly. Caesar moved south to confront this threat and link up with Domitius Calvinus, allowing his men to sack Gomphi en route. Pursued by Pompey, he then withdrew to the area near Pharsalus, but failed to tempt Pompey into giving battle. Regardless, in the ensuing Battle of Pharsalus on the 9th of August 48 BC, Pompey's army of around 38,000 outnumbered the 22,000 men commanded by Caesar, with 7,000 cavalry to 1,000. On the 9th of August he deployed his men in battle formation, planning to use his superior cavalry to outflank his opponent on his left. Caesar had anticipated this, and repulsed the cavalry which fled in confusion, exposing the infantry behind them. Under pressure from the left and in front, the Pompeian army collapsed.
The Death in Egypt
Pompey escaped from the battlefield and made his way to Mytilene, where he was reunited with his wife Cornelia. Most of his Eastern allies were present at Pharsalus and had either been killed or captured. The main absentee was 14-year-old Ptolemy XIII, ruler of the wealthy and strategically important kingdom of Egypt, making it an obvious destination. Cato announced his intention to continue the war from Africa, although most of his senatorial colleagues, including Cicero and Marcus Junius Brutus, made their peace with Caesar and returned to Rome. Pompey sailed from Cyprus with a small fleet, and on the 28th of September 48 BC arrived at Pelusium in Egypt, where Ptolemy was engaged in a bitter civil war with his co-ruler and elder sister, Cleopatra VII. When he went ashore to greet an official delegation, Pompey was killed by Lucius Septimius, a Roman officer and former colleague serving in the Egyptian army. His body was cremated by two servants, while the head was kept as evidence.
One suggestion is that Ptolemy and his advisors feared Pompey planned to seize control of Egypt, especially since many Egyptian army officers were Roman mercenaries like Septimius who had previously served with him. At the same time, it seemed an easy way to win Caesar's support against Cleopatra, although ultimately this proved not to be the case. Pompey's head was later returned to Cornelia for burial at his villa in the Alban Hills, while his ignominious death prompted Cicero to write his life outlasted his power. The death of Pompey marked the end of an era in Roman history, as it removed one of the last great defenders of the Republic and paved the way for Caesar's rise to power. His story became the subject of frequent literary treatment, from Lucan's epic De Bello Civili to Renaissance plays and modern historical novels, ensuring that his legacy as a complex and tragic figure would endure for centuries.