From Noble Birth to Military Prodigy

Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, better known as Pompey the Great, was born in 106 BCE into an aristocratic Roman family. His father, Strabo Pompeius, was a distinguished military commander who served as consul in 89 BCE and played a crucial role in suppressing the northern front of the Social War. Young Pompey grew up immersed in Greek culture, developing both intellectual refinement and a passion for warfare. By the age of 17, he was already fighting alongside his father in the Social War.

When Strabo died—reportedly struck by lightning—Pompey inherited his estate and spent six years in Picenum. During this time, Rome was embroiled in the civil war between Marius and Sulla. Recognizing the shifting tides of power, Pompey raised three legions using his father’s reputation and aligned himself with Sulla. His military prowess quickly earned him Sulla’s favor—so much so that Sulla reportedly stood to greet him, an honor granted to no one else.

The Path to Power: Conquests and Political Maneuvering

In 82 BCE, Pompey divorced his wife to marry Sulla’s daughter, solidifying his alliance with the dictator. Soon after, Sulla dispatched him to seize Sicily, which fell without resistance. Next, Pompey was sent to Africa, where he defeated Domitius Ahenobarbus in a lightning campaign, conquering Numidia in just 40 days. His success in Africa elevated his status in Rome, but when Sulla ordered him to disband his army, Pompey defiantly marched his troops to Rome’s gates, demanding a triumph—a celebration traditionally reserved for consuls and praetors. Sulla reluctantly conceded, granting him the title Magnus (“the Great”).

After Sulla’s death in 78 BCE, political unrest erupted. The consul Lepidus attempted to overturn Sulla’s constitution, but Pompey crushed his rebellion. He then turned his attention to Spain, where the Marian general Sertorius had established a formidable resistance. Though initially defeated, Pompey capitalized on Sertorius’s internal strife—his assassination by his own officers—and swiftly crushed the remaining forces.

The Pirate Wars and Eastern Campaigns

In 67 BCE, Pompey was granted unprecedented authority to eradicate Mediterranean piracy. Dividing the sea into 12 districts, he combined military force with clemency, resettling surrendered pirates as farmers. Within three months, he restored safe trade routes, earning immense public favor.

His next challenge was Mithridates VI of Pontus, Rome’s long-time enemy in the East. Appointed by the tribune Manilius, Pompey pursued Mithridates relentlessly, ultimately driving him to suicide in 63 BCE. He then reorganized the East, annexing Syria and Judea, and installing client kings. Returning to Rome laden with spoils, he found the Senate resistant to his demands—particularly land grants for his veterans—leading to a bitter rift.

The First Triumvirate and Civil War

Seeking political leverage, Pompey allied with Crassus and Julius Caesar in the First Triumvirate (60 BCE). However, tensions escalated after Crassus’s death in 53 BCE, and Caesar’s growing power threatened Pompey’s dominance. When the Senate ordered Caesar to disband his army in 49 BCE, civil war erupted. Pompey, commanding the Senate’s forces, fled to Greece after defeat at Pharsalus. He was later assassinated in Egypt, his head presented to Caesar as a grim trophy.

Legacy: Hero or Opportunist?

Pompey’s military genius and administrative reforms left an indelible mark on Rome. His campaigns expanded Roman territory, and his pirate suppression revitalized Mediterranean trade. Yet his ambition and political maneuvering also contributed to the Republic’s collapse.

The Colosseum, built later, became a symbol of Rome’s grandeur and brutality—much like Pompey himself. As one ancient prophecy declared: “While the Colosseum stands, Rome stands; when the Colosseum falls, Rome falls; when Rome falls, the world falls.” Whether Pompey was Rome’s savior or a harbinger of its decline remains a debate as enduring as the ruins of the empire he helped shape.