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How Did Pompey Influence Rome

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Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, or Pompey the Great, was born in 106 BC in Picenum, Italy to the politician and general Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo (Pompey Strabo). Although Pompey the Great came from an aristocratic background, his father was a novus homo, meaning that he was the first in his family to be elected to public office. Pompey Strabo rose through the ranks of Roman government, becoming quaestor in 104 BC, praetor in 92 BC, and then elected consul in 89 BC. At this time, during the civil war between Sulla and Marius, Pompey Strabo supported Sulla’s side, the Optimates. This group consisted of aristocrats and the wealthy, as opposed to the populares, led by Marius, which was in favor of the common people. Pompey Strabo passed away in 87 BC during …show more content…
As a result, a plebian tribune, Aulus Gabinius proposed the Lex Gabinia, which granted an ex-consul, chosen by the senate, proconsular power through the whoel of the Mediterranean and 50 miles inward of any coast. This amount of power was unprecedented. Yet, the Senate opposed the law because they knew that Pompey would be favored by the people as the leader, and they feared giving Pompey that much power. The plebian tribunes passed the law, and the senate also approved it, albeit reluctantly. Pompey then set about on his crusade against the pirates. He eradicated all piracy in the Mediterranean, and the war with the pirates was ended very quickly, though it should be noted that Pompey was able to convince some 20,000 of them to give up piracy and settle on land as …show more content…
In his first consulship, his re-institution of the plebian tribunates and council later proved to be valuable to Julius Caesar. As Caesar was popular amongst the common people while being feared by the optimates and senate, it was invaluable for Caesar because it allowed him to pass laws favorable to him. The plebian council allowed him to gain control over France and legal immunity for 10 years. This power was the major reason for the start of the civil war with Pompey and therefore, Pompey’s decision to give more power to plebian offices played a major role in his death and Caesar’s rise. The land distribution bill that Pompey helped pass also allowed soldiers to become loyal to their generals over Rome, similar to what Marius did many years before Pompey and Caesar. In addition, Pompey’s political influence in the triumvirate helped tremendously in getting Caesar elected consul in the first place. Without Pompey, Caesar might not have been able to even be elected consul, and certainly wouldn’t have been able to amass such a large army and so much power. As such, Pompey had a lasting influence on Roman history and was a major reason for Rome’s transition from a Republic to an

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