Sextus Pompey
Sextus Pompey (c. 68 BC. - 35 BC. ) is the youngest son of the great Pompey , and his third wife Mucia Tertia. He was an opponent of the members of the second triumvirate in the Republican camp.
Summary |
When Caesar crossed the Rubicon in 49 BC. AD, thus causing the civil war, father and elder brother of Sextus Pompey fled to the East, like most Republican senators. Sextus, he remains in Rome with his stepmother Cornelia Metella.
Pompey's army was defeated by Caesar at Pharsalia in 48 BC. BC and Pompey fled to the Egypt of which the sovereign owes. Sextus Pompey and Cornelia joined him en route to Mytilene (the capital of the island of Lesbos ). But hardly Pompey he reached the Egyptian coast that is murdered on the beach Pelusium under the eyes of his family. While Cornelia returned to Rome, Sextus joined the resistance against Caesar in the African Provinces, along with Metellus Scipio , Cato the Younger and his brother Pompeius the Younger.
It follows a series of battles between the optimates and the forces of Caesar. Caesar won the first Thapsus in 46 BC. BC, Metellus Scipio cons. Scipio and Cato is executed suicide. Sextus and his brother withdrew in Hispania. In 45 BC. BC, Caesar defeated Pompey brothers at the battle of Munda , near Cordoba , and puts an end to Republican resistance. The Younger Pompey captured and executed for treason. Sextus but manages to escape with the remnants of his army to Sicily , and stood up to the lender Carrin then Asinius Pollio.
Caesar returned to Rome, was assassinated during the Ides of March in 44 BC. BC by a group of senators led by Cassius and Brutus. Then he prepares an assault on Cartagena , with seven legions, teaches that Sextus Caesar's death. The Senate, believing he had regained his freedom, called Sextus prefect of the fleet and commander of the Roman coast, and Sextus set up his headquarters at Marseilles.
The resistance against the second triumvirate
But a new civil war erupts between the assassins of Caesar and his heirs, Octavian and Mark Antony. Under pressure, the Senate, only four months after taking his decision to withdraw its securities Sextus. In November -43, the second triumvirate was formed by Octavian, Mark Antony and Lepidus , with intent to permanently crush all opposition. Under the will of Octavianus, Sextus is declared a public enemy and on the list of proscribed. He fled again with his fleet and took possession of Sicily.
However, the elimination of Brutus and Cassius is the priority of the triumvirate, Sextus has the opportunity to rebuild a base in Sicily to reform an army. It gives freedom to the slaves of the island, and welcomes in his army fugitives, outlaws, and slaves. He began successfully intercept all convoys carrying supplies to Italy. It prides itself with a certain level with the title "son of Neptune," which he hopes to curry favor by sacrificing a horse and an ox with gilded horns.
Once the forces of Cassius and Brutus fought at the Battle of Philippi in Macedonia Eastern Europe, -42, the triumvirate turned his attention to Sextus and Sicily. Sextus, however, is well prepared and even obtained the assistance of two angel legions and 80 ships survived the battle of Philippi. Thus, at the head of a large army, he rejects the fleet of Octavian, commanded by Quintus Rufus Salvidienus in -42, off the Italian coast, near Reggio. During the following years, several battles are taking place which no party takes advantage. Nevertheless, -40, Admiral Sextus Menas , beating Marcus Lurius and took control of Sardinia. Sextus also grabbed the Corsica , and its blockade starved Rome.
The soldiers and the people oppressed by famine and taxation, demanding peace. Riots broke out in Italy who are severely repressed. With its success, Sextus, however, is unable to attack Italy. Her mother tries to persuade Mucia it is time to make peace. His stepfather, Lucius Scribonius Libo , also interposes between the triumvirate and Sextus, and arranges a marriage between Octavian and his sister Scribonia to calm the situation.
The impossibility of reconciliation
The triumvirate Sextus and therefore find themselves Misenum to conclude a peace agreement -39, each escorted by their legions. Sextus first asked to join the triumvirate in place of Lepidus, causing the breakdown of talks. But Libo and Sextus Mucia can convince to return to the negotiating table. Finally, the treaty is concluded Misenum, and recognizes the power of Sextus: he was appointed governor of Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, and of Achaia. His troops must receive the same benefits as those of the triumvirate - loot, retreats, etc.. The outlaws are committed to him rehabilitated and regain their property - with the exception of the assassins of Caesar. The slaves are freed refugees in Sicily. Sextus obtained the promise of more to have the consulate of the year -38, and be compensated for his inheritance. In return, Sextus agrees to cease its acts of piracy, to rid the coast of pirates and his legions, and restore the supply of wheat from Sicily and Sardinia to the mainland.
After the treaty, Sextus calls Antony and Octavian at dinner on his ship, he has ironically as his "Carinae", referring to pinching his former home in the district Carinae , in Rome, where Antony had seized. To mark the new covenant, the only daughter of Sextus Pompey, Pompeia Magna , is given in marriage to the nephew of Octavius, Marcellus.
The Treaty of Misenum, signed shortly after the pact Brindisi - which would seal the division of the Roman world between the triumvirate - is a good compromise for Octavian and Antony: Antony, who is preparing the campaign against the Parthians , needs all his legions and release the front of Sicily; Octave, it can handle affairs. Thus, after the treaty was signed, most of Sextus allies in the Senate and former exiles chose the camp of Octavian and Antony. Sextus in fact loses many valuable allies.
The fall
Peace will not last. Anthony refuses to engage in Achaia Sextus, because he needs the income taxes of Peloponnese to finance his campaign against the Parthians. Octave He repudiates Scribonia to marry Livia , which is a provocation to Sextus. Sextus resumed its blockade and leaves the Italian coast thank you to the pirates. But Octavian managed to bribe one of the brightest allies Sextus Menas, who book, -37, Corsica, Sardinia and several legions. Under the command of Gaius Sabinus Calvisius , Menas is also an excellent military support.
Sextus still manages to contain the aggression through the experience of his troops and his tactical superiority: its ships, smaller and lighter, capable of conducting rapid and destructive attacks against its enemies. Octavius was defeated at the Battle of Messina in -37, then again in August -36. It can however count on one of the greatest generals in the history of Rome, Agrippa , prefect of the new Roman fleet. It uses a new naval weapon, the harpax - a piece of wood about 2 meters, launched by a ballista , which can catch the enemy ship and tackle.
Sextus is finally defeated at the Battle of Nauloque in September -36. Sextus is forced to flee again and fled to Miletus with her daughter and 17 ships. He tries to assemble a new fleet and desperate attack Antony. Escaping to Armenia , he was captured in Bithynia , in -35. He was assassinated by Marcus Titius , Antony's lieutenant, former Senator proscribed by Pompey the Great ...
The most detailed account of the elimination of Sextus Pompey is given by Appian in Book V of the Civil War. In 144, states that Appian Sextus Pompeius was executed during its 40th year, which would be born in -75. But -75 is the birth date of Pompey the Younger , his older brother.
After the death of Sextus, Lepidus is removed from power by Octavian to deal with Sextus Pompey, while Antoine fighting the Parthians in the East. The fate of Sextus, executed without trial, will be one of the weapons used by Octavian against Antony several years later when they finally turn the rivalry against each other.
Sextus Pompey was primarily driven by a desire to rehabilitate the paternal glory. For this reason he took up the struggle of Pompeii and had his name added to those of Magnus Pius and showing respect and devotion to his illustrious father.
Disambiguation and Consulate
Four homonyms are also known to Sextus Pompey. These four homonymous form a direct lineage to which Sextus is not directly.
Sextus Pompeius, consul -35
The name on the lists of consuls of the Roman Republic , in -35 , when contemporary Sextus Pompeius Magnus Pius, should have but does not designate.
Indeed, it was agreed to Pozzuoli that Sextus be placed ahead of the pomp or consular Fasti , which can not be changed.
The trick that Augustus , Lepidus and Mark Antony claim Taranto to declare Sextus (then Imperium statutory Sicily ) hostis and thus be able to face it, is to use a homonym, also named Sextus Pompey.
This is an obscure cousin Sextus back and may therefore replace it without problems of legality.
Sextus Pompey, uncle and great uncle Sextus Pompeius Magnus Pius
Sextus Pompeius, consul -35 is himself the son and grand-son of two new homonyms.
The older of the two is the brother of Pompey Strabo , and thus great-uncle Sextus Pompeius Magnus Pius).
Sextus Pompeius, consul in 14
Last of the line and therefore son of Consul -35 , he was consul of Roman Empire in 14.
Chronology
- 48 BC - in Egypt, where his father was murdered
- 47/45 BC - resistance in Africa
- 45 BC - defeated in Munda
- 42 BC - controls Sicily with a large fleet
- 40 BC - making Sardinia
- 39 BC - Misenum treated with Octavian and Mark Antony
- 37 BC - Octavian defeat off Messina
- 36 BC - Agrippa's victory over Sextus
- 35 BC - capture and killing in Asia Minor
Bibliography
- Moses Hadas: Sextus Pompey. The WF Humphrey Press, Geneva, NY 1930; Nachdruck AMS Press, New York 1966.
- Anton Powell, Kathryn Welch (Hrsg.): Sextus Pompeius. Classical Press of Wales, Swansea, 2002, ISBN 0-7156-3127-6 ( Rezension bei BMCR ).
- Bruno Schor: Beitrge zur Geschichte des Sextus Pompey. Hochschulverlag, Stuttgart 1978, ISBN 3-8107-2015-1.
- Victor Duruy : History of the Romans. Hachette, Paris, 1880.
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