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Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus
Pompey
First appearance S3E10: Victory
Last appearance S3E10: Victory
Profession Senator
Praetor
Proconsul
Race Roman
Relationships Marcus Crassus (Rival/Ally)
Metellus (Ally)
Julius Caesar (Rival/Ally)
Pompey's Messenger (Soldier)
Dour Soldier (Soldier, deceased)
Status Active
Actor/Actress Joel Tobeck

Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus is a praetor of Rome, known by many as the "Adolescent Butcher", and "Valiant Pompey" or simply just "Pompey".

Appearance[]

In his only appearance in the series Pompey adorns a bright white armor and galea, embossed with brass trims and decorations befitting for a man of high station.

Personality[]

Pompey, like Crassus, is ambitious in his political machinations, and carries an air of confidence around him. Likewise, Pompey also holds to heart the interests of the Republic, and willfully serves the state. 

Combat Prowess[]

Pompey is hailed as "Rome's greatest warrior", due to the many victories he aquired over the enemies of Rome. Even from an early age, he was described as being a master of land and sea, hence why his men use the crest of the eagle and dolphin.

Vengeance[]

Pompey is mentioned by Gaius Claudius Glaber and Marcus as they discuss the possibility of leading a force in Hispania to face Sertorius as they both believe Pompey the "Adolecent Butcher" who will be unable to quell the war there himself.

War of the Damned[]

He is first mentioned by Senator Metellus, when he explains to Cossinius and Furius that he always fights against Sertorius, as well as Lucullus fights Mithridate and Antonius fights Pirates and he can't to send them reinforcements against Spartacus. Pompey's absence will lead Crassus to rise against Spartacus.

He is second mentioned by Senator Metellus, who tells Marcus Crassus of Pompey's victory over the renagade Sertorious and of his soon return to Rome.

Metellus suggests to Crassus that Pompey should lead the charge against Spartacus, instead of Crassus. Crassus replies by saying Spartacus will be taken care of before the "Adolescent Butcher's" return.

Gnaeus Pompey

Pompey meeting Crassus and Caesar.

He becomes a major factor when Spartacus' men kill Roman soldiers bearing the crest of Pompey, symbolizing that he was soon to follow. This crest is then used by Spartacus into making an ambush attempt for Crassus, however, it ends up in the rebels capturing Crassus' son, Tiberius, instead.

true envoy of Pompey arrives in Crassus camp in attempts of negotiation between Crassus and Pompey. This, however, serves solely as proof that Spartacus had managed to deceive Crassus.

Pompey finally makes an appearance, revealing himself to Crassus after wiping out many of the rebels that attempted to escape north. Pompey ultimately steals the glory of crushing the rebellion, yet Crassus acknowledes Pompey as an ally instead of a rival and the two make plans to meet in the future. Crassus plans to have himself, Julius Caesar, and Pompey stand as a triumvirate in order to advance themselves in the political hierarchy.

Historical Context[]

Pompey was a serving Tribunus Laticlavius (chief tribune) when his father, Gnaeus Pompey Strabo, died in 87 BCE. After which he inherited his father's Imperium over his legions.

Pompey hadn't come into involvement of the Third Servile War until near the end when he began to return home after quelling the Sertorian War in Hispania. He was given direct orders to aid Marcus Licinius Crassus, who didn't desire aid from Pompey.

Following Crassus' victory over Spartacus in the Battle of the Siler River, Pompey had engaged an additional sum, cleaning up the remaining of the rebels. Following this, Pompey was granted victory by the Senate but both Pompey and Crassus were elected Consuls of that year.

In mid-60 BC, Pompey joined Marcus Licinius Crassus and Gaius Julius Caesar in the unofficial military-political alliance known as the First Triumvirate, which Pompey's marriage to Caesar's daughter Julia helped secure. After the deaths of Julia and Crassus, Pompey sided with the optimates, the conservative faction of the Roman Senate. Pompey and Caesar then contended for the leadership of the Roman state, leading to a civil war. When Pompey was defeated at the Battle of Pharsalus in 48 BC, he sought refuge in Egypt, where he was assassinated. His career and defeat are significant in Rome's subsequent transformation from Republic to Empire.

Trivia[]

  • Pompey was born on the 29 September of the Roman year 648 Ab Urbe Conditia (106 BCE), otherwise known as the Year of the Consulship of Q. Servilius Caepio and C. Atilius Serranus.
    Schermafbeelding 2013-04-26 om 13.42

    Pompey's eagle and dolphin.

    Interestingly, he is referred to as "The Adolescent Butcher", even by Caesar, who was historically younger than Pompey at the time of the rebellion. Pompey was 34 in 71 BC, whereas Caesar would have been 29. Pompey was nineteen years old (87 BCE) when his father, Pompey Strabo, had died, and the younger Pompey would inherit the three legions, whom were raised with his father's own fortune, despite the fact that Pompey had not completed his role in the Cursus Honorum. Pompey was known as the "Adolescent Butcher" from that time and even well into his thirties.
  • Pompey held the office of Proconsul of Hispania Citerior (north-eastern Spain toward the Ebro Valley) between 76-71 BCE. In which capacity he directed the war against the renegade Roman governor Quintus Sertorius and his native Iberian allies.
  • An admiral (Praefectus Classis) as well as a general, Pompey was credited with eliminating the Cilician pirates as a force within the Mediterranean sea in a single campaign in 66 BCE.
  • Gnaeus Pompey Magnus belongs to the Gens Pompeia of Picenum (modern Italian region of Marche) in eastern-central Italy on the Adriatic coast. The Gens Pompeia were among the Roman colonists whom settled in the region in the early Third Century BCE after the conquests of local tribes, such as the Picentes and the Celtic Senones of Senigallia.
  • Pompey eventually married Ceasar's daughter Julia in order to cement the political alliance forged between them.
  • Pompey has never seen fighting in the series, it is unknown if he can competed with Crassus or Caesar.

Quotes[]

References[]

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