Pompey the Great
Roman History Blog Post: Pompey
James Sterrett
Pompey:
Pompey the Great was a powerful general and politician who was part of the coup that ended the Roman Republic. Pompey the Great was a Roman politician who led a major military victory over King Mithradates. Pompey the Great was part of a gang of three that included Crassus, Julius, and Pompey. Pompey created crucial land reform. Pompey the Great was an important Roman politician who led major military victories, was part of the gang of three, and created land reform.
Pompey the Great came from a prominent family. Pompey’s father, Strabo, was one of the most hated Roman generals of all time.[1] However, Strabo was a widely respected general and fighter; he was despised after he died.[2] Pompey went to court to be disposed of some stolen Roman possessions; however, Pompey married the daughter of the judge and went free in a decent defense.[3] Pompey the Great was born in 106BCE and died in 42BCE.[4] He became consul with Crassus in 70 BCE; they were extremely productive during this time period.[5] Pompey the Great won a decisive military victory over King Mithradates of Pontus. King Mithradates was one of the Roman Republic's last and strongest enemies who controlled much of Asia. Pompey defeated Mithradates in 71 BCE; this was a critical victory that shaped ancient Rome’s destiny.[6]
Pompey, Julius Caesar, and Crassus created the “gang of three” political group. Pompey, the gang of three, led a political coup and hijacked the Roman Republic to control it for their own ends.[7] Pompey was one of them, and they marched on Rome. The “gang of three” led between 60 BCE and 50 BCE. Pompey, during his third consulship, tried to create social reforms; however, by using military force to achieve these ends, he lost power.[8] Pompey was murdered in 45BCE in Egypt.[9] Pompey was murdered after a civil war between the three First Triumvirates.
Pompey was an interesting Roman leader who contributed to the best and worst parts of the Roman Republic. He was a Roman Consul at one point, and then later he was one of the “gang of three”; the Roman Republic fell later as a result of his actions. However, he contributed to some of the best and most impactful Roman victories. In addition, Pompey was a well-intentioned politician; however, he led a coup against the Roman Senate. He tried to create political reforms but lost his power due to using force to implement them. His main historical legacy includes later coups, his defeat of Mithridates, which increased European influence, and his coup of the Roman Republic. His consulships also allowed him military victories and his ability to create social reform.
Bibliography:
Beard, Mary. SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome. New York: Liveright Publishing Corporation, 2015.
Cicero. The Republic and The Laws. Translated by Niall Rudd. Introduction and notes by Jonathan Powell and Niall Rudd. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.
“Pompey the Great.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. Accessed November 3, 2026. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pompey-the-Great.
Plutarch. Plutarch's Lives. Vol. 2. Translated by John Dryden. Edited by Arthur Hugh Clough. New York: Modern Library, 2001.
Suetonius. The Twelve Caesars. Translated by Robert Graves. Revised by James Rives. London: Penguin Classics, 2007.
Tacitus. The Annals of Imperial Rome. Translated by Michael Grant. London: Penguin Classics, 1971.
King, Ross. The Shortest History of Ancient Rome. Collingwood, VIC: Black Inc., 2024.
[1] Plutarch, Plutarch's Lives, vol. 2, trans. John Dryden, ed. Arthur Hugh Clough (New York: Modern Library, 2001), page number. Pg. 70
[2] Ibid pg. 70
[3] Ibid Pg. 71
[4] Ross King, The Shortest History of Ancient Rome (Collingwood, VIC: Black Inc., 2024), Pg. 54
[5] Cicero, The Republic and The Laws, trans. Niall Rudd (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998), pg. 236
[6] King, The Shortest History of Ancient Rome, pg. 55
[7] Mary Beard, SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome (New York: Liveright Publishing Corporation, 2015), page number. Pg. 218
[8] Tacitus, The Annals of Imperial Rome, trans. Michael Grant (London: Penguin Classics, 1971), Pg. 133
[9] Cicero, The Republic and The Laws, Pg. 236
Comments