Gnaeus Pompeius, Pompey, or Pompey the Great, was born in Rome on Sept 29, 106 B.C.E. He was a great Roman general who was victorious in many battles. Among other victories he helped end the slave revolt led by Spartacus in c.72 B.C.E. and furthered the Roman conquest of Spain.
Because of his leadership abilities Pompey was elected consul in 70 B.C.E. However, he ran into opposition in the senate, especially from Marcus Crassus, and returned to leading the army to more conquests.
After leaving consul he destroyed the Mediterranean pirates in c.67 B.C.E and defeated the kingdom of Pontus in c.65 B.C.E. Pompey also captured Jerusalem and Syria and allied with Armenia. Pompey's settlement of the East established the pattern of administration for over a century.
When Pompey returned to Rome in 61 B.C.E. the tensions between Crassus and himself had grown. To advert a war between the two, Julius Caesar negotiated an alliance making Pompey, Crassus and Caesar the three leaders of Rome. This triple leadership is known as a Triumvirate. Once the agreement was signed, the senate was forced to obey.
After the Triumvirate was formed, Pompey married Caesar's daughter, Julia. This marriage managed to keep an uneasy peace between Pompey and Caesar. Due to poor leadership, Crassus died in Syria in 55 B.C.E.; now only two of the Triumvirate rulers remained. When Julia died in 54 B.C.E. Caesar and Pompey became bitter enemies. Pompey went to the senate and became consul again.
In 49 B.C.E., once Pompey returned to the senate, Caesar went to Italy and formed an army. He returned to Rome on January 11, 49 B.C.E. and the civil war began. In 48 B.C.E., Caesar fought Pompey's army at Pharsala. Although Pompey's army outnumbered Caesar's, Caesar's army was more experienced. The senate pressured Pompey to attack first, Pompey reluctantly did so. Caesar was victorious in the battle, however, Pompey managed to escape to Egypt.
As soon as he fled to Egypt Pompey tried to ally with the Pharaoh Ptolemy. Ptolemy, however, knew Caesar was coming into Egypt for Pompey and Ptolemy had Pompey discreetly killed. Caesar was not happy about his son-in-law/rival being murdered by someone other than himself.
By Dena Connors-Millard
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