Pompey

"Pompey the Great," who wiped out the pirates and pacified the east, but later lost the civil war to Caesar.

Life

Boy shogun

As a young man Pompey raised his own army and joined Sulla, winning victory after victory, and was called "the Great." He helped crush the remnants of the Spartacus revolt and was consul with Crassus in 70 BCE.

Pirates and the East

In 67 BCE he cleared the Mediterranean of pirates in just three months; he then took over the war against Mithridates VI, pacified Asia Minor and Syria, captured Jerusalem in 63 BCE, and reorganized Rome's eastern provinces. In 60 BCE he formed the First Triumvirate with Caesar and Crassus and married Caesar's daughter Julia.

Pharsalus

After the deaths of Julia and Crassus he broke with Caesar and sided with the Senate. In 48 BCE he was defeated by Caesar at Pharsalus, fled to Egypt, and was assassinated by courtiers of the Egyptian king.

Legacy

Pompey was one of the most illustrious commanders of the late Roman Republic, and his defeat marked the Republic's slide toward its end.

Did you know? According to Plutarch, when Caesar was shown Pompey's head he turned away and wept.

Key dates

• 83 BCERaised his own army and joined Sulla
• 70 BCEBecame consul
• 67 BCECleared the seas of pirates
• 63 BCECaptured Jerusalem
• 60 BCEForms the First Triumvirate
• 48 BCEDefeated at Pharsalus; assassinated in Egypt