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Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (“the Great”) was born on 29 September 106 BCE as Gnaeus Pompeius. He received his nickname Magnus from his contemporaries because of his great political and military successes and his services to Rome. Roman commander and politician; son of Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo.
Youth
Pompey was born in a senatorial family. He gained his first military and political experience under the guidance of his father Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo, who was a consul in 89 BCE. Under his command, he took part in the Social War. In 87 BCE, when Pompey was 19, his father died, leaving him his fortune and the good name of the family.
After Sulla’s troops got to Brundisium (today’s Brindisi) in 83 BCE, he joined him with his three legions, which he managed to form near Picenum. Over time, he became Sulla’s personal proponent as he owed him the command without an initial period of office.
Military career
In 82 BCE he took part in the conquest of Rome, and then, thanks to Sulla, he took command of units fighting with Marius‘ supporters in Sicily and in Africa. In 81 BCE he eventually defeated the army of the Populares.
After the victory, he received the title of ‘Great’ (Magnus) from Sulla and, with his consent, he triumphed in Rome. Only in 78 BCE against Sulla’s will, he supported the candidacy of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus for the consulship, which inflamed his relationship with the dictator. However, when Lepidus attempted to overthrow the Sulilian regime, Pompey protested against him. This contributed to the defeat of Lepidus and strengthened Pompey’s position in Rome.
In 77 BCE Pompey stood at the head of the troops fighting with the Marian supporters in Spain, led by Sertorius. After Sertorius’ death, as a result of a conspiracy, and the final defeat of the opponent’s troops, Pompey returned to Italy and took part in the fight against Spartacus’ troops in 71 BCE.
Together with Marcus Crassus, with the consent of the Senate, they took over the consulship in 70 BCE. Pompey became a consul, even though he did not reach the legal age and had not previously served other offices required by the so-called cursus honorum. The new consuls cancelled the most restrictive part of the laws introduced during Sulla’s dictatorship, restoring, among others, tribal power.
In 67 BCE he received special privileges in the Mediterranean, thanks to which he carried out a quick, victorious campaign against the pirates.
