Pompey the Great

Pompey the Great (106–48 B.C.), Roman general and political leader. He started his career in 83 B.C. when he helped Lucius Sulla win a war against Gaius Marius. A few years later, he was sent to Spain to end a rebellion by Marius' supporters. In 72 B.C. he suppressed the slave revolt led by Spartacus. He was elected a Roman consul in 70 B.C. In 67 B.C. he was given the task of ridding the Mediterranean Sea of pirates. The next year he fought and defeated Mithridates VI of Pontus, conquering Palestine, Syria, and parts of Asia Minor. When the senate disapproved of some of his actions, Pompey united with Julius Caesar, a senate opponent. In 60 B.C., Pompey, Caesar, and Marcus Crassus formed the First Triumvirate (a triumvirate is a trio who head a government together), which ruled for several years. However, Pompey became competitive for Caesar's power and consequently broke with him. Pompey went over to senate's side and became a consul again in 52 B.C. In 49 B.C., Caesar defied the senate and initiated military action that resulted in civil war. Pompey was defeated at Pharsala. He fled to Egypt and was captured and executed there by the Roman-controlled Egyptian government.

See also: Caesar, (Gaius) Julius.