Gnaeus Pompeius, referred to commonly as Pompey, was born on September 29th in 106 BC. Pompey’s father was a wealthy Roman in a noble position: a member of the consul in 89 BC. Earlier in Pompey’s life there was the civil war between Gaius Marius and Lucius Sulla. Pompey took Sulla’s side, making some incredible victories in Africa and Sicily. In 79 BC Sulla resigned and died the next year. Two of his patrons, who had fought for him, Pompey and Marcus Crassus, moved to leading military positions in the seventies. Crassus and Pompey fought together in a battle against a Marian rebel, Quintus Sertorius, and a slave rebellion lead by Spartacus in Italy. They returned, having won, in 71 BC. Pompey went to Rome where he campaigned successfully. Pompey and Crassus were candidates for consulship in 70 BC, and both were elected in spite of the opposition Pompey received from a group called the Optimates. The Optimates were people who had an influence on the consuls. Pompey was trying to gain power, but the Optimates saw Caesar as a larger threat, and made a reluctant peace with Pompey. Pompey served his time as Consul and received command over the Mediterranean. Here he accomplished something incredible for the time. Pompey cleared the area of Pirates in 67 BC. After this achievement he traveled to many places, obtaining a new ally, the King of Armenia, and seizing Jerusalem.

• BACK
• HOME
• FORWARD