Pompey

Pompey, a key figure in ancient Roman history, was a politician and a military commander who was active during the late Roman Republic. He belonged to an affluent family without any political leverage, but he grew up to become a very influential man. His father, Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo, was an infamous man. Pompey worked for two years under his father’s commands and took over the reins when his father died while safeguarding Rome from the Marians. Pompey proved himself to be better than his father in using tactical skills to win battles. Equipped with an army, he brought Syria, Armenia, and Palestine under the Roman Empire. He also tamed the pirates in the Mediterranean Sea and was appointed as the administrator of the lands conquered by him. His former rival, Julius Caesar, joined hands with him in 60 BC. Along with Marcus Licinius Crassus, the trio is known in history as the “First Triumvirate.” While Pompey became jealous of Caesar’s success, Caesar, too, could not tolerate the extraordinary rise of Pompey. Soon, Caesar started plotting against him. While the general support was with Pompey, the Egyptian king, Ptolemy, feared Caesar. In order to earn Caesar’s goodwill, Ptolemy plotted and killed Pompey as soon as he landed in Egypt in 48 BC.