Pompey

Timeline

1. c. -106–-82Rome · LazioBorn into the Pompeii family, his father had served as consul. During Sulla's civil war he led troops in support of Sulla, winning victories in Africa and elsewhere; granted a triumph at only twenty-five, he displayed outstanding organizational and battlefield command skills and quickly rose among Rome's top warlords.
2. -67–-62Eastern Mediterranean · Eastern MediterraneanGranted special authority to swiftly clear the Mediterranean of pirates, he then campaigned in the east, defeating Mithridates of Pontus and reorganizing the eastern provinces of Syria, Judea, and others. His triumph was unprecedented in scale, earning him the title 'the Great' and making him the most celebrated soldier of the late Republic.
3. -60–-53Rome · LazioAllied with Caesar and Crassus to balance senatorial power, supporting Caesar's consular candidacy. After Crassus' death he dominated Roman politics alone, holding the governorship of Spain while residing in Rome and ruling through agents; relations with Caesar grew increasingly tense over competition in military power and political standing.
4. -49–-48Pharsalus · ThessalyAfter Caesar crossed the Rubicon, Pompey led the senatorial forces east and mustered in Greece. He suffered a crushing defeat at Pharsalus in 48 BCE, fled to Egypt seeking the protection of Ptolemy XII, but was assassinated and his head presented to Caesar, dissolving the military core of the republican faction.