The Roman Republic’s Most Powerful Figure Before Julius Caesar
After Sulla secured Rome, he sent the young Pompey to recapture Sicily and Africa from the Marians. Pompey accomplished that in two swift campaigns by 81 BC. He capped off his victory with the execution of the captured Marians – they had killed his father, after all. Pompey was named Magnus, or “the Great”, by his troops, and denigrated as the “Boy Butcher” by detractors. After Sulla’s retirement, Pompey menaced the Senate and got it to appoint him commander of the war against the final Marian remnants in Hispania. He eventually won that conflict after considerable effort by 71 BC.
When Pompey headed back to Italy, he took his army with him, ostensibly to help put down Spartacus’ slave revolt. In reality, Pompey wanted his army with him in Italy, to guarantee his election to the consulship, which he secured in 70 BC. In 67 BC, he became the Republic’s most powerful figure when he was granted vast authority throughout the Mediterranean to settle a piracy problem that had grown out of control. He managed to do so in a brilliant campaign that lasted only three months. He was then appointed to command a war against Pontus, and granted authority to settle the entire eastern Mediterranean. To do that, he ruthlessly annexed some kingdoms into the Roman Republic, and reduced others to client state.