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[[File: Hw-pompey.jpg |200px|thumbthumbnail|left|A bust of Pompey]]Pompey the Great, (106 BCE-48 BCE), was one of the most important figures in the Roman Republic. He was one of its greatest generals and most important statesmen. Pompey, received the epitaph the Great, for a remarkable series of victories that expanded the Roman Empire in the east, he also ended piracy in the Mediterranean, stabilized Spain and developed a food supply system for the ever-increasing metropolis of Rome. Pompey was a prodigy and achieved much by an early age. However, his career ended in failure and death. Pompey, he tried to preserve the old order, but his defeat by Caesar and his death made the fall of the Roman Republic inevitable.

===Background===Pompey’s family belonged Pompey ended the threat from the pirates. He then turned his attention to the senatorial class Mithridatesnand defeated him and they were particularly powerful in a region forced him to escape to the east of Rome, PicenumCrimea. The family had many clients in Picenum and they could raise a private army from their supporters. This area was Pompey annexed the power base territory of Pompey Mithridates and allowed him to play created a key role in the Republic. Pompey’s father, was an ally new Roman province out of Marius in his war with Sulla and during kingdom. Later he conquered the conflict he was able to extend his lands and number Seleucid Kingdom of clients. However, Pompey’s father suddenly died and Pompey inherited all his lands Syria and turned the Judean Kingdom into a private armyclient state. He changed sides in the civil war and attached himself Pompey returned to Sulla Rome, for a Triumph and was acclaimed as Pompey the aristocratic causeGreat.<ref> Holland, TomPlutarch. Rubicon (Vintage, London, 2003)Life of Pompey, p. 11256</ref>He tried to secure land for his veterans but he was blocked by many senators, who disliked him intently. He later joined Sulla  To secure his aims, he entered an agreement with Julius Caesar and Crassus. This arrangement the First Triumvirate brought some stability to Rome. Between them, the trio managed to secure their own appointment to key positions within the Roman Republic. They had their own supporters appointed as governors and the three men effectively ruled the Empire. Pompey was able to secure command of legions that he had recruited in Picenum Spain and he helped Sulla was able to recover Rome. Pompey gained a reputation for brutality as this timereorganize the region.

Sulla later ordered him Later he could develop a new system to regain control of Sicily supply Rome with food and this saved the Province of Africa city from forces loyal famine. Caesar was able to Marius <ref> Goldsworthy, A., In secure an army for the name conquest of Rome: Gaul. The Men Who Won First Triumvirate ran into trouble with the Roman Empire (Weidenfield defeat and Nicolson, New edition, 2004)death of Crassus in Parthia.<ref> Life of Crassus, p. 145119</ref>The Triumvirate ended when Caesar refused to disband his armies after his conquest of Gaul, and he marched on Rome. After Sulla’s retirement, Pompey became one of led the most powerful men in the Republicsenatorial opposition to Caesar, despite his earlier poor relations with this group. He used his army was forced to obtain a command from the Senate in Spainflee Italy. In Spain, he defeated the Marian supporter Sertorius46 BCE. Pompey returned to Rome and he was increasingly worried defeated by Caesar at the failure Battle of Pharsalus in the senatorial class to provide competent governmentBalkans. When In 48 BCE, he became consul he repealed several measures of Sulla and limited the power of the senatorial classwas assassinated in Egypt by a renegade Roman soldier.<ref> Goldsworthy, p. 117213</ref>. At the time the situation in the east was deteriorating. Pirates had practically brought shipping to a halt and this threatened Rome’s food supply. King Mithridates IV of Pontus , in Anatolia (modern Turkey) although defeated by the Roman general Lucullus was still threatening Rome and her allies. In 67 BCE, the Senate voted that Pompey be given an extraordinary command in the east. He first acted against the pirates and attacked their main bases in Cilicia (in modern south-eastern Turkey).

====Pompey ended the threat from the pirates. He then turned his attention to Mithridatesnand defeated him and forced him to escape to the Crimea. Spain====Pompey annexed the territory of Mithridrates and created a new Roman province out of his kingdom. Later he conquered the Seleucid Kingdom of Syria and turned the Judean Kingdom into a client state. Pompey returned with another commander helped to Rome, for a Triumph and was acclaimed as Pompey end the Great<ref> Plutarch. Life rule of Pompey, 56</ref>Sertorius. He tried to secure land for his veterans but he was blocked by many senators, who disliked him intently. To secure his aims, a supporter of Marius and he entered an agreement with Julius Caesar and Crassus. This arrangement the First Triumvirate brought some stability has been able to Rome. Between them win the trio managed to secure their own appointment to key positions within support of the Roman Republicnative Celtiberian tribes. They had their own supporters appointed as governors and the three men effectively ruled the Empire. Pompey was able Sertorius proved to secure command of legions in Spain be an excellent commander and was able to reorganize the region. Later he could develop a new system to supply Rome with food and this saved the city from famine. Caesar was able to secure carve out an army independent state for the conquest of Gaulhimself in Spain. The First Triumvirate ran into trouble with Pompey played a critical role in the defeat of Sertorius and death of Crassus in Parthia<ref> Life of Crassus, p. 119</ref>. The Triumvirate ended when Caesar refused to disband his armies after his conquest of Gaul successor and he marched on Romereintegrating Spain into the Empire. Pompey led the senatorial opposition to Caesarwas a gifted administrator, despite his earlier poor relations with this group. He was forced to flee Italy. In 46 BCE. and he was defeated by Caesar at reorganized the Battle of Pharsalus Provinces in Spain. For the Balkans. In 48 BCEfirst time, he was assassinated in Egypt by a renegade Roman soldier<ref>Goldsworthy, p 213</ref>the Romans were able to govern Spain effectively.

===Pompey and Spain===Pompey with another commander helped to end the rule of Sertorius. He was a supporter of Marius and he has been able to win the support of the native Celtiberian tribes. Sertorius proved to be an excellent commander and he was able to carve out an independent state for himself in Spain. Pompey played a critical role in the defeat of Sertorius and his successor and reintegrating Spain into the Empire. Pompey was a gifted administrator and he reorganized the Provinces in Spain. For the first time the Romans were able to effectively govern Spain. In the words of Plutarch, ‘’he "he remained in Spain long enough to quell the greatest disorders and compose and settle such affairs as were in the most inflammatory state’’ state."<ref> Plutarch, Life of Pompey, 45</ref> Pompey also established a patronage network in the region , and this greatly extended Roman influence among the many disparate Spanish tribes. During the course of the war with Sertorius, Pompey had pacified tribes that had long defied Roman rule.<ref> Plutarch, Life of Sertorius, 16</ref>.

====Pompey and the Settlement of the East====

Pompey conquered large areas of the Near East. Among the territories that he conquered were part of Turkey, all of Syria, Lebanon and Israel. He established a system for administrating these newly conquered territories. He established new provinces such as Syria. He appointed governors and established a Roman administration in these new provinces.<ref> Goldsworthy, p. 217</ref>.  Pompey was quick to see that the Judea's Jews in Judea would not accept direct Roman rule. He , therefore , created a ‘temple-state’ centered on Jerusalem. A priestly-elite controlled Judea , and they served the interests of Rome. Pompey did not absorb all the territories that he conquered, especially most of those kingdoms that had been part of the Empire of Mithridates or his allies.  Pompey believed that these territories could be effectively directly ruled by Rome. After the death of Mithridates in 63, he established a series of client kingdoms. He made his protégé Tigranes king in Armenia, who paid Pompey very well for the honor. The Roman General also turned the Bosphoran Kingdom in the Crimea into a client state, it would stay a client of Rome until the mid-4th century. Pompey also established a series of protectorates in the Caucuses, such as Colchis (modern Georgia) on the Black Sea. These client kingdoms and protectorates created a defensive frontier system to last for more than half a millennium. Pompey was the architect of the Roman East, and this is regarded as his greatest achievement.

Pompey believed that these territories could be effectively directly ruled by Rome. After the death of Mithridates in 63, he established a series of client kingdoms. He made his protégé Tigranes king in Armenia, who paid Pompey very well for the honor. The Roman General also turned the Bosphoran Kingdom in the Crimea into a client state, it would stay a client of Rome until the mid-4th century. Pompey also established a series of protectorates in the Caucuses, such as Colchis (modern Georgia) on the Black Sea. These client kingdoms and protectorates created a defensive frontier system that was to last for more than half a millennium. Pompey was the architect of the Roman East and this is regarded as his greatest achievement. However, he is widely blamed for a great diplomatic mistake. During his conquest of the Roman East he met with envoys of the Parthian Empire. This was a large empire based, in modern Iran and Iraq, that had a formidable army. The Parthian King offered Rome a peace treaty but Pompey rejected this with great arrogance. Many at the time believed that this led to many conflicts between Rome and the Parthian Empire, in subsequent decades and centuries .<ref> Goldsworthy, p. 156</ref>.

====Pompey and the Roman Food Supply====Pompey was very important essential in the development of developing the Annona or the supply of free or subsidized grain for Roman citizens. The city’s hinterland was unable to grow enough food for the city , and it is estimated that up to 90% of the city’s food had to be imported. Pompey played a crucial role in the development of the Annona. He was entrusted during his war with the Pirates to safeguard the seal sea lanes. He cleared the Eastern Mediterranean of pirates. He then turned his attention to the food supply of Rome.  Pompey established a system whereby grain from Sicily, Egypt , and North Africa was exported to Rome by sea. This grain was then distributed to the populace of Rome.<ref> Garnsey, Peter. Famine and Food Supply in the Graeco-Roman World: Response to Rise and Crisis (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1998)p. 231</ref>. Pompey used this grain to secure support in the city and to establish social stability in the city. This food distribution system that was first developed by Pompey the Great was briefly abandoned but was resurrected during the Augustus's reign of Augustus. It was to remain in place for several centuries and played a key role in Rome’s economy, society , and even politics.<ref> Garnsey, p 117</ref>.

====Pompey and the Civil War====

Pompey had many achievements but perhaps his most significant contribution to the history of Rome was his role in the Civil War with Caesar. Pompey, despite his previous clashes with the senatorial class , was appointed leader of the Republican armies. The Republican forces sought to destroy Caesar and to restore a traditional form of government in Rome. The Republicans were very divided and the only thing that they had in common was that all hated Caesar who they saw as a would-be tyrant and rebel. Pompey was the military commander of the Republican army, he . He was given command because of his previous successes .<ref>Greenhalgh, P., Pompey The Republican Prince (Littlehampton Book Services Ltd; 1981), p. 118</ref>.  However, Pompey was no longer a young man and had not seen active service in many years. He His strategy in the war with the Caesar has been widely criticized. The Republicans had been taken by surprise by Caesar’s bold advance on Rome and they had never expected him to cross the Rubicon, this action started the Civil War. In this war the Roman legions turned on each other, in the words of the poet Lucan ‘Rome's high race plunged in her vitals her victorious sword’sword.’<ref>Lucan, PharsalliaPharsalia, 3, 6</ref>. Pompey had very few legions at his disposal and he decided to leave Rome and abandon Italy and this even surprised Caesar, who could not believe his luck. The Republicans then set up a base in the Balkans and assembled a large force by extorting money from allies such as Egypt and Rome’s client kings.  The Caesarian army was able to land in modern-day Albania. Pompey displayed some of his old military skill to inflict a minor defeat on Caesar. The battle was significant because it left the Caesarian army in a perilous position, with its supplies running low. The Republican legions did not press home its advantage and it allowed Caesar to regroup and launch an attack.<ref> Holland, p. 119</ref> Pompey had missed the chance to inflict a heavy defeat on the enemy and possibly end the war. It is possible that he may not have been able to act decisively because of interference from the many Senators who were present in his headquarters. Plutarch believed that the Republicans and especially Pompey had become overconfident ‘’ Pompey…… wrote to distant kings and generals and cities in the tone of a victor.’’<ref> Plutarch, Life of Pompey 1. 62</ref>

The Caesarian army was able to land in modern day Albania. Pompey displayed some of his old military skill to inflict a minor defeat on Caesar. The battle was significant in that it left the Caesarian army in a perilous position, with its supplies running low. The Republican legions did not press home its advantage and it allowed Caesar to regroup and launch an attack<ref> Holland, p. 119</ref>. Pompey had missed the chance to inflict a heavy defeat on the enemy and possibly end the war. It is possible that he may not have been able to act decisively because of interference from the many Senators who were present in his headquarters. Plutarch believed that the Republicans and especially Pompey had become overconfident ‘’ Pompey…… wrote to distant kings and generals and cities in the tone of a victor’’ <ref> Plutarch, Life of Pompey 1. 62</ref>. However, Caesar was a military genius , and Pompey was simply out-thought by one of the greatest commanders of all time. Caesar totally defeated Pompey and his army was totally defeated by the Caesar at Pharsalus. After this battle, the Republicans were no longer able to challenge him and he was master of the Roman Republic, although some Republican forces continued to resist the Cesarean army for some years. The failure of Pompey in the Civil War meant that the fall of the Roman Empire was inevitable. Pompey had failed to save the Roman Republic in his war with Caesar. After Pharsalus, Caesar and later his heir Augustus began establishing the Imperial system in Rome. ====Conclusion====Pompey was one of the most important figures in the Roman Republic. He did much to consolidate the empire and greatly enlarged it. He stabilized Spain and expand the Empire to the East. His settlement of the East was a remarkable achievement. Pompey’s settlement of the east determined the Eastern Mediterranean's history and the Black Sea for at least 500 years. As a politician, his impact on Rome was mixed. His most lasting contribution was the establishment of the Annona or grain distribution network in Rome. Despite his many and lasting achievements, Pompey failed to stop Caesar. He made several strategic and tactical mistakes in the Civil War, which led to his own death and the downfall of the Roman Republic.

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