Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo (c. 135 – 87 BC) was a Roman general and politician, who served as consul in 89 BC. He is often referred to in English as Pompey Strabo, to distinguish him from his son, the famous Pompey the Great, or from Strabo the geographer.
Strabo's cognomen means "cross eyed". He lived in the Roman Republic and was born and raised into a noble family in Picenum (in the south and the north of the modern regions of Marche and Abruzzo respectively) in Central Italy, on the Adriatic Coast. Strabo's mother was called Lucilia. Lucilia's family originated from Suessa Aurunca (modern Sessa Aurunca) and she was a sister of satiric poet Gaius Lucilius. Lucilius was a friend of Roman general Scipio Aemilianus. Strabo's paternal grandfather was Gnaeus Pompeius, while his father was Sextus Pompeius. His elder brother was Sextus Pompeius and his sister was Pompeia.
Strabo was a prominent member of the Pompeii, a noble family in Picenum, in the north-east of Italy. The Pompeii had become the richest and most prominent family of the region, and had a large clientele and a lot of influence in Picenum and Rome. Despite the anti-rural prejudice of the Roman Senate, the Pompeii could not be ignored. After serving in the military, probably as a military tribune, Strabo climbed the cursus honorum and became promagistrate in Sicily 93 BC and consul in the year 89 BC, in the midst of the Social War.
Despite Strabo's provincial roots, he and his family were Roman citizens and therefore took up Rome's cause during the Civil War the Republic had to fight with its Italian Allies. He commanded his forces against the Italian rebels in the northern part of Italy. First he recruited three or four legions in his native Picenum then he marched them south against the rebels. In 90 BC, while marching his legions south through Picentum, he was suddenly attacked by a large force of Picentes, Vestini and Marsi.[1] Although the battle favoured neither side Strabo was heavily outnumbered and he decided to withdraw. Eventually he found himself blockaded in Picenum, but in the Autumn of 90 he launched two sorties that successfully caught his enemies in a pincer.[2] The remnants of the enemy army retreated to Asculum which Strabo decided to starve into submission.[2] Through his successful counter-offensive he became very popular and he used his fame to get elected as one of the consuls for 89 BC, his consular partner being Lucius Porcius Cato. Strabo attacked and defeated a rebel column trying to march into Etruria killing 5,000 rebels. Another 5,000 died while trying to get back across the Apennines.[3] Strabo's consular colleague Lucius Porcius Cato engaged the Marsi in battle near Fucine Lake (close to Alba Fucensis), he died in an attempt to storm the enemy camp; this left Strabo as sole consul.[4] The exact details of the siege of Asculum and the reduction of the neighbouring tribes are obscured by History. We hear of a huge Battle near Asculum, where Strabo defeated an Italian relief army of 60,000 men.[5] Soon after Asculum fell, Strabo had the rebel leaders whipped and executed and auctioned off all of their belongings.[5] He kept the proceeds of these sales, a fact which might explain his reputation for greed.[5] At the end of his term as consul, Strabo apparently sought a second immediate consulship for the year 88 BC – an act that was not illegal, as the case of Gaius Marius demonstrates in the late second century, but highly irregular nonetheless. Strabo evidently failed in his attempt, as Lucius Cornelius Sulla and Quintus Pompeius Rufus were elected consuls.
Triumph and Civil War
Strabo celebrated a triumph for his victories against the Italian Allies on 27 December 89. After his consulship expired a few days later, he retired to Picenum with all of his veteran soldiers. He did not disband his army but kept it in the field. The Senate soon transferred command of his army to Quintus Pompeius Rufus, one of the new consuls. However, when Pompeius Rufus arrived, he was murdered by Strabo's soldiers.[6] Strabo did not interfere when Sulla marched on and took Rome in 88 BC. He remained in Picenum until 87 BC, when he responded to the Senate's request for help against Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius Cinna who were also marching their forces on Rome. Strabo took his army to Rome; he did, however, not decisively commit to either side, instead playing both against the other. For this, Rutilius Rufus referred to him as "the vilest man alive". When negotiations with the Cinna-Marian faction fell through he did, however, attack Quintus Sertorius, one of Cinna's commanders, who was positioned north of the city, but the attack was without success.[7]
Death
In 87 BC Strabo and his army encamped outside the Colline Gate. He kept an unhygienic camp which resulted in an outbreak of disease in his army. Strabo himself caught dysentery and died a few days later, still in his camp outside the Colline Gate. His avarice and cruelty had made him hated by the soldiers to such a degree that they tore his corpse from the bier and dragged it through the streets.[8] Another story expounded by Plutarch claimed that the general died after being struck by lightning.[9]
His son, Pompey the Great, took the legions back to Picenum. He would use them to support Sulla a few years later.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Pompey". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 22 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 56–58.
^Lynda Telford, Sulla: A Dictator Reconsidered, p. 86.
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Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo c 135 87 BC was a Roman general and politician who served as consul in 89 BC He is often referred to in English as Pompey Strabo to distinguish him from his son the famous Pompey the Great or from Strabo the geographer Gnaeus Pompeius StraboBornc 135 BCPicenum ItalyDied87 BCRome ItalyNationalityRomanOfficeConsul 89 BC ChildrenPompey and PompeiaMilitary serviceBattles warsSocial WarBellum OctavianumAwardsTriumphStrabo s cognomen means cross eyed He lived in the Roman Republic and was born and raised into a noble family in Picenum in the south and the north of the modern regions of Marche and Abruzzo respectively in Central Italy on the Adriatic Coast Strabo s mother was called Lucilia Lucilia s family originated from Suessa Aurunca modern Sessa Aurunca and she was a sister of satiric poet Gaius Lucilius Lucilius was a friend of Roman general Scipio Aemilianus Strabo s paternal grandfather was Gnaeus Pompeius while his father was Sextus Pompeius His elder brother was Sextus Pompeius and his sister was Pompeia Contents 1 Early career 2 The Social War 3 Triumph and Civil War 4 Death 5 References 6 SourcesEarly career Edit Marble bust of Pompey Strabo in Lodi Lombardy Strabo was a prominent member of the Pompeii a noble family in Picenum in the north east of Italy The Pompeii had become the richest and most prominent family of the region and had a large clientele and a lot of influence in Picenum and Rome Despite the anti rural prejudice of the Roman Senate the Pompeii could not be ignored After serving in the military probably as a military tribune Strabo climbed the cursus honorum and became promagistrate in Sicily 93 BC and consul in the year 89 BC in the midst of the Social War The Social War EditMain article Social War 91 87 BC Despite Strabo s provincial roots he and his family were Roman citizens and therefore took up Rome s cause during the Civil War the Republic had to fight with its Italian Allies He commanded his forces against the Italian rebels in the northern part of Italy First he recruited three or four legions in his native Picenum then he marched them south against the rebels In 90 BC while marching his legions south through Picentum he was suddenly attacked by a large force of Picentes Vestini and Marsi 1 Although the battle favoured neither side Strabo was heavily outnumbered and he decided to withdraw Eventually he found himself blockaded in Picenum but in the Autumn of 90 he launched two sorties that successfully caught his enemies in a pincer 2 The remnants of the enemy army retreated to Asculum which Strabo decided to starve into submission 2 Through his successful counter offensive he became very popular and he used his fame to get elected as one of the consuls for 89 BC his consular partner being Lucius Porcius Cato Strabo attacked and defeated a rebel column trying to march into Etruria killing 5 000 rebels Another 5 000 died while trying to get back across the Apennines 3 Strabo s consular colleague Lucius Porcius Cato engaged the Marsi in battle near Fucine Lake close to Alba Fucensis he died in an attempt to storm the enemy camp this left Strabo as sole consul 4 The exact details of the siege of Asculum and the reduction of the neighbouring tribes are obscured by History We hear of a huge Battle near Asculum where Strabo defeated an Italian relief army of 60 000 men 5 Soon after Asculum fell Strabo had the rebel leaders whipped and executed and auctioned off all of their belongings 5 He kept the proceeds of these sales a fact which might explain his reputation for greed 5 At the end of his term as consul Strabo apparently sought a second immediate consulship for the year 88 BC an act that was not illegal as the case of Gaius Marius demonstrates in the late second century but highly irregular nonetheless Strabo evidently failed in his attempt as Lucius Cornelius Sulla and Quintus Pompeius Rufus were elected consuls Triumph and Civil War EditStrabo celebrated a triumph for his victories against the Italian Allies on 27 December 89 After his consulship expired a few days later he retired to Picenum with all of his veteran soldiers He did not disband his army but kept it in the field The Senate soon transferred command of his army to Quintus Pompeius Rufus one of the new consuls However when Pompeius Rufus arrived he was murdered by Strabo s soldiers 6 Strabo did not interfere when Sulla marched on and took Rome in 88 BC He remained in Picenum until 87 BC when he responded to the Senate s request for help against Gaius Marius and Lucius Cornelius Cinna who were also marching their forces on Rome Strabo took his army to Rome he did however not decisively commit to either side instead playing both against the other For this Rutilius Rufus referred to him as the vilest man alive When negotiations with the Cinna Marian faction fell through he did however attack Quintus Sertorius one of Cinna s commanders who was positioned north of the city but the attack was without success 7 Death EditIn 87 BC Strabo and his army encamped outside the Colline Gate He kept an unhygienic camp which resulted in an outbreak of disease in his army Strabo himself caught dysentery and died a few days later still in his camp outside the Colline Gate His avarice and cruelty had made him hated by the soldiers to such a degree that they tore his corpse from the bier and dragged it through the streets 8 Another story expounded by Plutarch claimed that the general died after being struck by lightning 9 His son Pompey the Great took the legions back to Picenum He would use them to support Sulla a few years later Strabo had at least two children a son Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus and a daughter Pompeia who married Gaius Memmius and then Publius Cornelius Sulla 10 In his honour his name was given to the cities of Alba Pompeia and Laus Pompeia References Edit This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Pompey Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 22 11th ed Cambridge University Press pp 56 58 Lynda Telford Sulla A Dictator Reconsidered p 86 a b Tom Holland Rubicon p 58 Philip Matyszak Cataclysm 90 BC p 100 Philip Matyszak Cataclysm 90 BC p 105 a b c John Leach Pompey the Great p 15 Velleius Paterculus Historia Romana II 21 John Leach Pompey the Great p 19 Appius Civil Wars I 63 Sallust Histories II 21 Philip Matyszak Sertorius and the Struggle for Spain p 27 Lynda Telford Sulla p 112 Plutarch Pompey Leach Pompey family tree and p 104Sources Edithttps web archive org web 20080503112904 http www ancientlibrary com smith bio 1930 html http www ancientlibrary com smith bio 2808 html Archived 2010 12 02 at the Wayback MachinePreceded byL Julius CaesarP Rutilius Lupus Roman consul89 BC With Lucius Porcius Cato Succeeded byL Cornelius SullaQ Pompeius Rufus Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo amp oldid 1136477546, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
