Pompeys rise to Political Prominence

A detailed Summary of Pompeys rise to Political Prominence

Question: Account for Pompey's rise to political prominence between 78- 62 BC. You are to examine and analyse political machinations of Pompey and attempt to explain how he managed to fulfil his ambition. You must establish a clear understanding of the complexities of the political situation and the effects of the Civil War.

Gnaeus Pompeius Crassus, better known as Pompey, or Pompey the Great, was born on September the 20th, 106 BC. Pompey was a Roman general and statesman, the erstwhile ally of Julius Caesar, but later his arch rival for power. Pompey was born in Rome into a senatorial family, and established an impressive military record. He brought an end to the Servile War instigated by the slave Spartacus; cleared the Mediterranean Sea of pirates; conquered the kingdoms of Pontus, Armenia and Syria; and captured Jerusalem in 61 BC. He entered Rome in triumph, but encountered opposition from the Senate. Pompey then formed an alliance, commonly called the First Triumvirate, with Julius Caesar and Marcus Licinius Crassus.

The career of Pompeius opened in fraud and violence. It was instigated, in war and peace, through illegality and treachery. Pompey was a great general, but a bad politician. Pompey helped to end the slav

Pompey's contracted ties of friendship with a number of great landowners of the class and rank of M. Terentius Varro from Reate in the Sabine land. (Varro served as a legate with Pompeius both in the Sertorian War and in the East, on sa and on land, cf. C. Cichorius, R. Studien, 189 ff). This helped contribute to his rise in power. The bulk of Pompeys personal adherents derived from Picenum- men of no great social distinction, the hungry sons of the poor and populous region. Picenum was the one sure hope of advancement. Pomey's consul was not effective, though a witty man and an orator as well as a soldier (Ib. I, 13, 2). He used political machinations; by scandalous bribery he secured the election of the military man L. Africanus.

Pompey was a young, confident man who had a habit to boast of the magnitude of his clientela, to advertise monarchs and nations bound to his personal allegiance. (Ad fam. 9, 9, 2: 'regum ac nationum clientelis quas oestentare crebro solebat). Pompey had from Thrance to the Causasus and down to Egypt acknowledging his predominance. The worship of power, paid homage to Pompey as a god, a saviour and a benefactor, devising before long a novel title, 'the warden of earth and sea'. (ILS 9459 (miletopolis)). Although Pompey was credited with vast military success, and hailed as Imperator several times, there is evidence to suggest that Pompey was not actually as skilled as he first appears. Pompey often avoided binding agreements, which could see him

Some common words found in the essay are:
Causasus Egypt, Indeed Pompey, Cichorius Studien, Aemilius Lepidus, Marcus Crassus, Licinius Crassus, Lucius Sulla, Political Speeches, Plutarch Pompey, Account Pompey's, political machinations, civil war, political prominence, civil war gnaeus, opposition senate, war gnaeus, political power, power pompey, julius caesar, 62 bc, pompey born, 78- 62 bc,

Approximate Word count = 1000
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: People