Gnaeus pompeius magnus biography of williams

His life, filled with ambitious achievements and a tumultuous end, marked the culmination of an era and the beginning of another. Pompey demonstrated military prowess from a young age, showing an innate ability for leadership and strategy that set the stage for his illustrious career. Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus was born into an era of significant turmoil and transformation within the Roman Republic.

The period leading up to and surrounding his birth was marked by the rise of powerful military leaders and the increasing use of armies loyal to commanders rather than the state, setting a precedent that Pompey himself would later follow. His early exposure to military life under his father, Pompeius Strabo, a competent general in his own right, provided Pompey with a unique insight into the complexities of Roman military and political strategies.

The Social War, in which Pompey first served under his father, was a crucial conflict between Rome and several of its Italian allies, known as the Socii, who sought Roman citizenship and equal rights. His early endeavors on the battlefield were not merely exercises in martial skill but also in loyalty and strategic acumen, as he navigated the complex allegiances and rivalries that characterized the late Republic.

Picenum provided Pompey with a power base independent of the traditional aristocracy centered in Rome. This independence was critical in allowing Pompey the freedom to pursue his ambitions without being overly tied to the interests and machinations of the Roman elite. His ability to raise his own troops in Picenum at a young age is a testament to his leadership and the respect he commanded among his peers and the local population.

Pompey the Great was renowned for his significant military victories and his role in expanding the Roman Republic. The Mediterranean Sea was the lifeblood of the Roman Republicfacilitating trade, communication, and military movements. He was granted extraordinary powers by the Lex Gabinia to clear the seas of pirates within three months.

Employing a divide-and-conquer strategy, he divided the Mediterranean into distinct zones, each patrolled by a fleet under one of his lieutenants. His military campaigns and political strategies contributed to the expansion of Roman territories, the stabilization of its borders, and the securing of vital trade routes. He was greeted by Sulla with the official title of Imperator General.

Gnaeus pompeius magnus biography of williams: Pompey the Great was one

At some point in 83 BC, it is not clear when but definitely before the onset of winter, Sulla sent Pompey back to Picenum to raise more troops. When fighting broke out once more in 82 Sulla advanced towards Rome, while Metellus one of his lieutenantssupported by Pompey, campaigned against the consul Gaius Papirius Carbo in Cisalpine Gaul. During this campaign Pompey acted as Metellus's cavalry commander.

Metellus and Pompey defeated Carbo's lieutenant, the praetor Gaius Carrinasin a six-hour battle at the river Aesis, only to be blockaded by Carbo himself. When word of Sulla's victory at the Battle of Sacriportus reached them, Carbo retreated to his base at Ariminiumseverely harassed by Pompey's cavalry. Some time later Metellus defeated Gaius Marcius Censorinusanother of Carbo's lieutenants, Pompey's cavalry caught Censorinus's fleeing troops outside their base at Sena Gallicadefeating them and plundering the town.

While Metellus remained in the north-west, Pompey seems to have transferred to Sulla's command in the south. Pompey advanced south-west along the Via Flaminia towards Spoletiumwhere he joined Marcus Licinius Crassus, together they defeated Carrinas once again. Pompey laid siege to Carrinas in Spoletium but the latter managed to escape. Pompey resumed his march to join Sulla's command.

Not long afterwards Pompey successfully ambushed another large force under Censorinus, which was trying to get through to Praeneste where Carbo's consular colleague, Marius the Younger who was the figurehead of the struggle against Sullawas blockaded. It was the failure of these attempts to get through the Sullan blockade in Umbria and Etruriaadded to Metellus's success in winning control of the north, which broke the back of the government's resistance.

At the end of the campaigning season of 82, the government forces made one final effort to march to the relief of Praeneste. They mustered 10, legionaries and marched to join forces with the Samnites and the Lucaniansfierce enemies of Sulla, who had campaigned against them in the Social War. Unable to gnaeus pompeius magnus biography of williams through Sulla's blockade, they marched for undefended Rome, only to be caught just in time and defeated by Sulla at the Battle of the Colline Gate.

Pompey, who was pursuing the government forces, arrived just after the battle. By the end of 82 BC, Sulla had expelled his opponents from Italy, and engineered his nomination as Dictator by the Senate. The surviving Marians escaped to Sicily, where their ally Marcus Perperna was propraetor. Perperna abandoned Sicily after Pompey landed on the island with a large force, [ b ] while Carbo was captured and later executed.

Pompey claimed this was justified by Carbo's alleged crimes against Roman citizens, but his opponents nicknamed him adulescentulus carnifexor "young butcher", as a result. Pompey now sailed for Africa, leaving Sicily in the hands of his brother-in-law, Gaius Memmius. Shortly thereafter, Pompey formally made this part of his name. On returning to Rome, he asked for a triumph to celebrate his victories, an unprecedented demand for someone so young.

They had three children before their divorce in 61 BC; Pompey the youngerusually known as Gnaeus, a daughter, Pompeia Magnaand a younger son, Sextus. Pompey supported Marcus Aemilius Lepidus as consul for 78 BC; Plutarch claims he did so against Sulla's advice, but most modern historians refute the idea. While Lepidus continued south, Pompey raised troops from among his veterans in Picenum, and moved north to besiege Mutinacapital of Cisalpine Gaul.

The town was held by Lepidus' ally Marcus Junius Brutuswho surrendered after a lengthy siege, and was assassinated next day, allegedly on Pompey's orders. Lepidus and the remnants of his army retreated to Sardiniawhere he died. The Sertorian War began in 80 BC when Quintus Sertoriusa prominent proscribed Marian general, initiated a rebellion in Hispaniawhere he was joined by other Roman exiles like Perperna.

Gnaeus pompeius magnus biography of williams: Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus known in

Supported by local Iberian tribes, he took control of Hispania Ulterior and repeatedly defeated Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius through skillful use of guerrilla warfare. Sertorius defeated other Roman generals sent to oust him and soon conquered Hispania Citerior as well. Backed by his allies in the Senate, Pompey was appointed military commander in Spain with proconsular authority in order to defeat Sertorius.

This act was technically illegal as he had yet to hold public office, illustrating Pompey's preference for military glory, and disregard for traditional political constraints. Pompey recruited 30, infantry and 1, cavalry, evidence of the threat posed by Sertorius. His arrival boosted the morale of Metellus' troops, while some rebels changed sides, but soon after he was defeated by Sertorius at the Battle of Lauron[ 34 ] losing one third of his army while inflicting next to no losses on Sertorius' army.

This was a serious blow to Pompey's prestige, who spent the rest of the year re-organising his army. Sertorius withdrew inland, then turned to fight at Saguntumwhere Pompey lost 6, men, including his brother-in-law Memmius, reputedly his most effective subordinate. Although Metellus defeated Perperna in a separate battle, Sertorius was able to withdraw to Clunia late in the year, where he repaired the walls to lure his opponents into a siege, while forming garrisons from other towns into a new field army.

Once this was ready, he escaped from Clunia and used it to disrupt Roman logistics on land and by sea. Lack of supplies forced Metellus to quarter his troops in Gaulwhile Pompey wintered among the Vaccaei. Pompey's letter had the effect of galvanizing the Senate into sending him more men and funds. Reinforced by two more legions, in 74 BC he and Metellus began a war of attrition against their enemy.

As his chief opponent had lost most of his Roman legionaries and could no longer match him in the field, Pompey, along with Metellus, gained the upper hand, conquering more and more Sertorian cities, slowly grinding down Sertorius' revolt. By now, Sertorius was being undermined by internal divisions. 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' correspondence, allegedly containing proof of communications between the rebel leader and leading men in Rome. Pompey burned the letters unread and executed Perperna, and then spent some time restructuring the local Roman administration, showing a lack of animosity towards his former opponents, which extended his patronage throughout Hispania and into southern Gaul.

Pompey returned to Italy just before Crassus defeated the main rebel army in 71 BC, arriving in time to massacre 6, fugitives from the battle. His claim to have ended the war by doing so was a long-standing source of resentment for Crassus. Pompey was granted a second triumph for his victory in Hispania, and nominated for the consulship. Since he was both too young and technically ineligible, this required a special senatorial decree.

However, their consulship did see the plebeian tribune "gnaeus pompeius magnus biography of williams" powers removed by Sulla. One of the most significant was the ability to veto Senatorial bills, an act often seen as a turning point in the politics of the late Republic. Although popular with the people, the measure must have been opposed by the optimatesand thus passing it required support from both consuls, although most extant sources barely mention Crassus.

Pirates operated throughout the Mediterranean, while their fleets often formed temporary alliances with enemies of Rome, including Sertorius and Mithridates. Their power and range had increased over the past fifty years, partly because of the decline of traditional naval powers like Rhodeswhile previous attempts to subdue them had been unsuccessful.

Principally based in Ciliciain 68 BC they raided as far as OstiaRome's port, and kidnapped two senators, to general outrage. It 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. In Gaul, Piso hampered his recruitment efforts, while in CreteQuintus Metellus refused to comply with his instructions.

Pompey spread his forces throughout the Mediterranean to prevent the pirates escaping a Roman fleet by moving elsewhere. 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 Coracaesiumwinning 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. These communities retained a strong attachment to both Rome and Pompey. Lucullus was a skilled general who won numerous victories, but claims he was protracting the war for "power and wealth" led to a Senate investigation, while by 69 BC his troops were weary and mutinous.

He also assumed leadership of the war against Mithridates, but failed to respond decisively when the latter re-occupied much of Pontus in 67 BC, then attacked Cappadociaa Roman ally. The optimates were privately horrified that one man should hold so much influence, but fearful of his popularity allowed the measure to pass. Incensed at being replaced, Lucullus called Pompey a "vulture" who profited from the work of others, a reference both to his new command and claim to have finished the war against Spartacus.

When Mithridates offered a truce, Lucullus argued the war was over, but Pompey demanded concessions which could not be accepted. According to contemporary sources, Mithridates and a small contingent escaped the battle, outstripped their pursuers, and reached Colchis on the Black Sea. In 65 BC, Pompey set out to take Colchis, but to do so had first to subdue various local tribes and allies of Mithridrates.

After winning a series of battles, he reached Phasis and linked up with Servilius, admiral of his Euxine fleet, before a fresh revolt in Caucasian Albania forced him to retrace his steps. Victory at the Abas enabled him to impose terms on the Albanians and agree truces with other tribes on the northern side of the Caucasus. Relying on his naval gnaeus pompeius magnus biography of williams to wear down Mithridates, Pompey spent 64 BC annexing the independent and wealthy cities of Syriawhich 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. An attempt to commit suicide by taking poison allegedly failed due to his habit of taking "precautionary antidotes", and he was killed by the rebels. Pharnaces sent his embalmed body to Pompey, in return for which he was granted the Bosporan Kingdom and made an ally of Rome.

The final collapse of the Seleucid Empire allowed Pompey to annex Syria in 64 BC, but its dissolution destabilised the region, while many of its cities had used the power vacuum to achieve independence. Pompey's incursion further south, into Judeawas occasioned on account of its inhabitants, under the leadership of Hyrcanus II and Aristobulus IIhaving ravaged Phoenicia and Pompey wanting to bring a stop to it.

When he compelled the latter to surrender Jerusalemits defenders took refuge in the Templewhich the Romans first stormedthen looted. Judea became a client kingdom ruled by Hyrcanus, while its northern section was incorporated into the Decapolisa league of semi-autonomous cities see map. Both Judea and the League were made subordinate to the new province of Syria.

Other organisational changes included creating the province of Bithynia and Pontuswith the rest of Mithridates' territories distributed among Roman allies. Elsewhere, Ariobarzanes I of Cappadocia was restored to his throne, while Lesser Armenia was taken from Tigranes and incorporated into Galatiawith Pompey's client Deiotarus becoming ruler of the new kingdom.

Finally, Cilicia received the coastal region of Pamphyliapreviously a centre of piracy, along with other inland areas and reorganised into six parts. Before his return to Italy in 62 BC, Pompey paid his troops bonuses totalling around 16, talents[ 87 ] [ f ] but despite fears he intended to follow Sulla's example, they were dismissed upon arrival at Brundisium.

He was awarded a third triumph for his achievements in Asia Minor, celebrated on his 45th birthday in 61 BC. Pompey the Great was the most popular man in Rome. Everyone adored the successful general. Everyone but the Senate. Wary of his power and popularity, the Senate rejected his proposal for land-grants to his veterans and denied ratifying the autonomy Pompey gave to the eastern cities.

Never the one to give up, he turned for help to another successful general and statesman — Julius Caesar. Unlike Pompey, Caesar rose slowly but steadily through the ranks of Roman politics, respecting the tradition that Pompey ignored. Together with Crassus, they agreed to pool their resources. Pompey had the military muscle, Caesar had the political connections, and Crassus, the richest man in Rome, had the cash.

The First Triumvirate, as it is known today, was a mutual arrangement that allowed its members to bypass the Senate and rule the Republic together. Unlike Caesar, who left for GaulPompey withdrew from military affairs and remained in the capital. However, the next two years saw tensions rising within the Triumvirate. A year later, trying to outdo Pompey, Crassus was killed in Parthia.

The removal of Crassus set the two remaining triumvirs on a collision course. Once again, a powerful and popular military man, backed by his legions, threatened the Republic. It was deja-vubut with a twist. The hero of the Republic was now a man whom the Senate once despised, a man who broke all the traditions: Pompey the Great. Perhaps Pompey had counted on his wealth and military experience to win the day.

But after Caesar famously crossed the Rubicon in 49 BCE, the once-mighty general was unable to defeat his former ally. Caesar had battle-hardened legions, while Pompey had to build his Republican army from scratch. After a year of avoiding decisive battle, in 48 BCE, Pompey felt ready to engage his opponent. It was to be his final victory. It is hard to say whether it was his hubris, or a miscalculation that ruined the day.

Instead, he was betrayed. While Pompey was disembarking in Alexandria, he was assassinated and beheaded. Ptolemy probably hoped to curry favor with Caesar. Upon his arrival in Egypt, however, the victor reacted in disgust. According to Cassius Dio, the last triumvir wept for his fallen opponent. Pompey conducted the campaigns of 65 to 62 B.

He imposed an overall settlement on the kings of the new eastern provinces, which took intelligent account of the geographical and political factors involved in creating Rome's new frontier on the East. After returning to Rome, Pompey said that he had waged war against twenty-two kings in the East. His third Triumph took place on the 29 September 61 B.

Two entire days were scheduled for the enormous parade of spoils, prisoners, army and banners depicting battle scenes to complete the route between Campus Martius and the temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus. To conclude the festivities, Pompey offered an immense triumphal banquet and made several donations to the people of Rome, enhancing his popularity even further.

Although now at his zenith, by this time Pompey had been largely absent from Rome for over 5 years and a new star had arisen. Pompey had been busy in Asia during the consternation of the Catiline Conspiracy, when Caesar pitted his will against that of the Consul Cicero and the rest of the Optimates. His old colleague and enemy, Crassus, had loaned Caesar money.

Cicero was in eclipse, now hounded by the ill-will of Publius Clodius and his factional gangs. New alliances had been made and the conquering hero was out of touch. Back in Rome, Pompey deftly dismissed his armies, disarming worries that he intended to spring from his conquests into domination of Rome as Dictator. Pompey sought new allies and pulled strings behind the political scenes.

The Optimates had fought back to control much of the real workings of the Senate; in spite of his efforts, Pompey found their inner councils were closed to him. His settlements in the East were not promptly confirmed. The public lands he had promised his veterans were not forthcoming. From now on, Pompey's political maneuverings suggest that, although he toed a cautious line to avoid offending the conservatives, he was increasingly puzzled by Optimate reluctance to acknowledge his solid achievements.

Pompey's frustration led him into strange political alliances. Although Pompey and Crassus distrusted each other, by 61 B. Crassus' tax farming clients were being rebuffed at the same time that Pompey's veterans were being ignored. Thus entered Caesar, 6 years younger than Pompey, returning from service in Hispania, and ready to seek the consulship for 59 B.

Caesar somehow managed to forge a political alliance with both Pompey and Crassus the so-called First Triumvirate. Pompey and Crassus would make him Consul, and he would use his power as Consul to force their claims. Plutarch quotes Cato the Younger as later saying that the tragedy of Pompey was not that he was Caesar's defeated enemy, but that he had been, for too long, Caesar's friend and supporter.

Caesar's tempestuous consulship in 59 brought Pompey not only the land and political settlements he craved, but a new wife: Caesar's own young daughter, Julia. Pompey was supposedly besotted with his bride. After Caesar secured his proconsular command in Gaul at the end of his consular year, Pompey was given the governorship of Hispania Ulterior, yet was permitted to remain in Rome overseeing the critical Roman grain supply as curator annonaeexercising his command through subordinates.

Pompey efficiently handled the grain issue, but his success at political intrigue was less sure. The Optimates had never forgiven him for abandoning Cicero when Publius Clodius forced his exile. Only when Clodius began attacking Pompey was he persuaded to work with others towards Cicero's recall in 57 B. Once Cicero was back, his usual vocal magic helped soothe Pompey's position somewhat, but many still viewed Pompey as a traitor for his alliance with Caesar.

Other agitators tried to persuade Pompey that Crassus was plotting to have him assassinated. Rumor quoted by Plutarch also suggested that the aging conqueror was losing interest in politics in favor of domestic life with his young wife. He was occupied by the details of construction of the mammoth complex later known as Pompey's Theater on the Campus Martius; not only the first permanent gnaeus pompeius magnus biography of williams ever built in Rome, but an eye-popping complex of lavish porticoes, shops, and multi-service buildings.

Caesar, meanwhile, was gaining a greater name as a general of genius in his own right. By 56 B. Caesar called first Crassus, then Pompey, to a secret meeting in the northern Italian town of Lucca to rethink both strategy and tactics. By this time, Caesar was no longer the amenable silent partner of the trio. At Lucca it was agreed that Pompey and Crassus would again stand for the consulship in 55 B.

At their election, Caesar's command in Gaul would be extended for an additional five years, while Crassus would receive the governorship of Syria, from which he longed to conquer Parthia and extend his own achievements. Pompey would continue to govern Hispania in absentia after their consular year. This time, however, opposition to the three men was electric, and it took bribery and corruption on an unprecedented scale to secure the election of Pompey and Crassus in 55 B.

Their supporters received most of the important remaining offices. The violence between Clodius and other factions were building and civil unrest was becoming endemic. The triumvirate was about to end, its bonds snapped by death: first, Pompey's wife and at that time Caesar's only childJulia, died in 54 B. Caesar's name, not Pompey's, was now firmly before the public as Rome's great new general.

The public turmoil in Rome resulted in whispers as early as 54 that Pompey should be made dictator to force a return to law and order. After Julia's death, Caesar sought a second matrimonial alliance with Pompey, offering a marital alliance with his grandniece Octavia future emperor Augustus 's sister. This time, Pompey refused. In 52 B.

It can be presumed that the Optimates had deemed Pompey the lesser of two evils. In that year, the murder of Publius Clodius and the burning of the Curia Hostilia the Senate House by an inflamed mob led the Senate to beg Pompey to restore order, which he did with ruthless efficiency. The trial of the accused murderer, Titus Annius Milo, is notable in that Cicero, counsel for the defense, was so shaken by a Forum seething with armed soldiers that he was unable to complete his defense.

After order was restored, the suspicious Senate and Cato, seeking desperately to avoid giving Pompey dictatorial powers, came up with the alternative of entitling him sole Consul without a colleague; thus his powers, although sweeping, were not unlimited. The title of Dictator brought with it memories of Sulla and his bloody proscriptions, a memory none could allow to happen once more.

As a Dictator was unable to be punished by law for measures taken during office, Rome was uneasy in handing Pompey the title. By offering him to be Consul without a colleague, he was tied by the fact he could be brought to justice if anything he did was seen to be illegal. While Caesar was fighting against Vercingetorix in Gaul, Pompey proceeded with a legislative agenda for Rome, which revealed that he was now covertly allied with Caesar's enemies.

While instituting legal and military reorganization and reform, Pompey also passed a law making it possible to be retroactively prosecuted for electoral bribery—an action correctly interpreted by Caesar's allies as opening Caesar to prosecution once his imperium was ended. Pompey also prohibited Caesar from standing for the consulship in absentiaalthough this had frequently been allowed in the past, and in fact had been specifically permitted in a previous law.

This was an obvious blow at Caesar's plans after his term in Gaul expired. Finally, in 51 B. This would, of course, leave Caesar defenseless before his enemies. As Cicero sadly noted, Pompey had begun to fear Caesar.

Gnaeus pompeius magnus biography of williams: Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (ca.

Pompey had been diminished by age, uncertainty, and the harassment of being the chosen tool of a quarreling Optimate oligarchy. The coming conflict was inevitable. In the beginning, Pompey claimed he could defeat Caesar and raise armies merely by stamping his foot on the soil of Italy, but by the spring of 49 B.