Roman Republic 5 70’s BC Rise of Pompey (106-48BC) Crassus (115-53BC) and Caesar (100-44BC)

1. Roman Republic 5 70’s BCRise of Pompey(106-48BC)Crassus(115-53BC)andCaesar(100-44BC)

2. AFTER SULLA (78BC) • Undoing Sulla’s reforms favouring the Optimates began immediately he died. • Lepidus was consul for 78BC • a success of the Social war, and Sulla’s Proscriptions, • A populare who’d won support from the urban poor • offering cheap corn, returning confiscated property, recalling exiles • Tried to restore the tribunate, was vetoed by the other consul, & attacked Rome • Scared senate declared a senatus consultum ultimum , and was killed in 77BC • Showed how easily the reforms of Sulla could be overturned. • Gnaeus Pompeius’ early career • Charismatic son of a successful “novus homo” senator from southeast Italy. • Campania (where Naples, Pompeii were) , • Had helped out Sulla in the Social war with his private Army • Raised from among his Clients • HE’D defeated Sulla’s enemies in Sicily & Africa and Sulla reluctantly granted him an unprecedented Triumph (usually Consuls only) at 25 yrs of age (& against Romans). • Sulla sarcastically nicknamed him “the great” – Magnus, • Mocking his aspirations to copy Alexander & tried to downgrade his triumph (putting it on 3rd ) • Senate had given him pro-praetorian imperium to fight Lepidus • when he attacked Rome (against Sulla’s reforms) • He executed Lepidus’ deputy, M Junius Brutus (father of Caesar’s assassin) • He resisted senate’s efforts to end his command, • suggesting he be sent with pro-consular rank to help the Roman governor of Spain with a rebellion (15 yrs too young). • One of Marius’s generals, Sertorius, was rebelling there • V young, he hadn’t even been elected to the lowest rung of the cursus honorum – so wasn’t even a senator • The rebellion ended when Sertorius was killed in battle in 71BC, • Pompey co-governed the Hispania province successfully • settled things there gently avoiding massacres & giving citizenship to loyal Spaniards.

3. Rome’s problems as Pompey rose to recognition • corrupt law courts • Still under senatorial control – and favouring upper class not urban poor’s interests • Spanish rebellion • Of Sulla’s supporter, Sertorius • Tribunes still not restored to power • Mithridates playing up again • Pirates threatening Rome’s corn supply • Spartacus led slave revolt 73/72BC (3rd Servile war) • A Thracian, had rebelled with 70 gladiators & raised a large army on Mt Vesuvius • Had many initial victories around Campania (at 1st Rome didn’t take him seriously sent only 7000 militia men). • He trained squads in gladitorial techniques exponentially ready for the consular armies of 72BC • They defeated these as he headed out of Italy across the alps, but then (mysteriously) turned back • Crassus given pro-consular power in Italy to put it down & 50,000 (8 legions). A feared general (decimation) • His legions headed off the rebels at the alps (why did he not escape Italy??) and was chased south to the toe. • Betrayed by pirates, captured by Crassus’ and crucified – (6,000) • Pompey, returning from Spain, helped mop up the Northern remnants (5000) • but he claimed his 2nd triumph upsetting Crassus (and his hoped for consulship). • Many feared a new civil war • Consulship of Pompey and Crassus (70BC). • Crassus – a tycoon from an old consular plebian family • Victims of the Marian purges • Successful in Sulla’s army, but eclipsed by Pompey throughout his military career (pipped for triumphs ) • a tycoon ($170billion)– slave-hirer, land, silver mines and fire-brigade scammer (had defeated Spartacus) • though Pompey claimed this honour, (had cleaned up the leftovers when returning from Spain) • Crassus and Pompey formed a pact of alliance ‘amicitia’, and became consuls for 70BC • Better to work together, than to destroy each other • Even though Pompey was 6 yrs younger than the legal age limit and hadn’t worked up the cursus honorum • Senate gave him special dispensation and a 2nd Triumph, while Crassus only got an Ovation for Spartacus’ defeat

4. Pompey was the hero of the day • The victor of Sparticus (undeservedly) • With tribs because he favoured restoring the tribunate, • with equites because equestrian representation in courts • After 10 yrs most of Sulla’s reforms were now overturned, • the senate had failed to make the most of the opportunity he’ given it, and civil war was inevitable. • Both Pompey & Crassus reflected the senate’s conservatism (optimates) but was annoyed by their reforms • and both were shut both out of good military command after their term • Especially the war against Mithridates (which was rekindeld in 74BC). • Pompey especially had to struggle to get any command, and even then through the tribunes, not the senate • Rise of Caesar • Like Sulla, he was of the best patrician family • (tracing back to Venus and Aeneas) • had been out of cash and influence until his aunt married Marius, and they could again afford high office. • Young Caesar had fallen foul of Sulla for not divorcing his first wife • a daughter of Sulla’s opponent Cinna, • He’d fled Rome (until Sulla forgave him) • He’d been captured by pirates and ransomed • when returning from Rhetorics lessons in Rhodes, • fulfilled his promise to return, capture the pirates and crucified them. • Military tribune in 71, Quaestor in Spain in 68BC, with Pompey in his battle against the Pirates in 67BC. • Pompey defeats the Pirates 68/67BC • The Pirate problem blockading Rome’s corn (with Mithridates) • finally solved by a law (lex Gabinia) giving Pompey immense imperium • a 3yr imperium infinitum over the sea & proconsul status over land 80km inland plus men, ships, money. • In 3 months he had removed the problem and was declared “first Man in Rome” EX 10G pg 277