Pompey

pom'pi (106-48 B. C.), surnamed the Great, a famous Roman general. He was an ambitious young man of aristocratic birth. Owing to his rapid rise he incurred the jealousy of the senatorial party. He then turned to the common people and bargained with them for the consulate, to which he was elected 70 B. C. In return for their assistance he abolished the aristocratic constitution under Sulla and set up the more plebeian regulations of the Gracchi. He came into power at a time, however, when it mattered little by what constitution the Romans were nominally governed. As a matter of fact, they were subject to the caprice of whoever happened to be in power. Pompey performed several services that gave him a hold on the populace. He crushed the Marian party in Sicily and Africa and reduced the entire peninsula of Spain, then in a state of revolt, to subjection. The Mediterranean Sea was infested by pirates, who made it difficult and hazardous for the Roman merchants to import wheat. The pirates were so numerous and so well organized that they visited various parts of the coast with regularity, collecting tribute or carrying away treasure. They had no less than 1,000 vessels with well appointed dockyards and arsenals. They had, it is said, as many as 400 mountain fastnesses to which they retreated with their booty. They were even bold enough to attack a Roman fleet at the mouth of the Tiber. Pompey was given command of an army of 100,000 men and a fleet of over 200 ships. He prosecuted a war against the pirates with vigor and soon cleared the entire Mediterranean of these pests.

In the far East, he conducted a successful campaign against Mithridates, a prince who has always been named with respect as an enemy of Rome deserving to rank with Hannibal. Pompey also conquered Syria and Phoenicia and created a new Roman province. In 63 B. C. he captured the city of Jerusalem. This was the first direct contact of the Roman and the Jew. On his return from this circle of conquests he enjoyed the greatest triumph Rome had ever known. Like a Columbus returning from a new world, he was conducted in triumph through the streets. Three hundred and twenty-two princes walked in chains before his chariot; banners were borne aloft proclaiming that he had overcome twenty-one kings, captured 1,000 strongholds, exacted tribute from 900 towns, and made prizes of 800 ships. Twelve million people, it was announced, had been brought under Roman rule, and $25,000,000 placed in the public treasury. The tribute to be exacted from these conquered provinces might be expected to double the revenues of Rome. The shouting populace hailed him as the conqueror of Europe, of Asia, and of Africa.

In the meantime history had been making at Rome. The conspiracy of Catiline had been formed and detected. Cicero had come into prominence and was hailed by the populace as the savior of his country. Pompey now entered into an agreement with Caesar and Crassus, forming the so-called First Triumvirate. The early death of Crassus left Caesar and Pompey to divide the Roman world between them. While Caesar was absent on his famous Gallic campaign Pompey was endeavoring to so fortify himself at Rome as to exclude Caesar from the partnership. He neglected no means of attaching people of importance to him. He pleased the populace with games and amusements on a magnificent scale. He erected an immense theater on the field of Mars, capable of seating 40,000 spectators.

The rest of Pompey's story is soon told. Caesar, who was kept informed by friends of what was going on in the city, marched upon Rome with his army, 49 B. C. Pompey and his influential friends, including the majority of the Senate, did not wait for Caesar's arrival, but fled eastward over the Apennines, following the great military road to Brundisium. Here they crossed the Adriatic into Greece with 25,000 soldiers. The senators held pretended meetings at Thessalonica and proclaimed Rome in a state of rebellion. Early in the following year, having quieted Italy and Sicily, Caesar crossed over to Greece with an army and met Pompey's forces on the plains of Pharsalia in Thessaly. It is needless, perhaps, to add that Caesar was completely successful. Pompey fled from the battlefield with a few attendants and escaped to Egypt. On former occasions Pompey had loaded the reigning Ptolemy with favors, and now hoped for a welcome and protection. When Caesar landed in hot pursuit Pompey's bloody head was presented to him in a basket. The sight of the face of his old friend is said to have been too much for Caesar. He burst into tears. The assassins, who had hoped to gain favor, were ordered to execution. Pompey's remains were buried with honors.

The news of Pompey's death was received with sincere regret at Rome. Caesar deemed it wise to cause or permit the erection of a monument in his honor. For a clearer statement of the respective political views held by Pompey and his great opponent, the student is referred to the article on CAESAR. See also CRASSUS.