Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus edit

Career

1. 70 BCE
   Consul edit

   Pompey and Crassus co-operated in restoring the powers of the tribunate of the plebs, and in reviving the censorship (a, see below, Censors), but were personally estranged and only reconciled publicly with difficulty (b). Pompey gave extensive votive games (c), and Crassus a huge banquet to the people (d). Both refused provincial commands (e).

2. 55 BCE
   Consul edit

   Elected by violence after an interregnum (a), they then administered the other elections in favor of their candidates (b; see Praetors, on Vatinius). Pompey carried a law to limit the selection of jurymen to the highest rating in the census (c); and dedicated his theater, portico, and temple of Venus Victrix with sumptuous games (d), while Crassus carried a Lex de sodaliciis, in which the selection of jurors to judge offences under it was limited to five tribes with right of rejection of only one (e). Under the Lex Trebonia(1) (see Tribunes of the Plebs, on Trebonius) Pompey received command of Spain for five years and Crassus of Syria for a like term. Both then carried a bill which either explicitly or in effect prolonged Caesar's term in Gaul for five years, since it forbade the discussion of a successor before March 1, 50 (f). Crassus departed for Syria in November, amid tribunicial opposition and evil omens (g), while Pompey remained in Italy and governed his provinces by means of Legates (h).

3. 52 BCE
   Consul edit

   Because of the violence which attended the candidacy of Milo, Metellus Scipio, and Hypsaeus for the consulship, and of Clodius for the praetorship, the murder of the latter on January 18 by Milo's followers in a brawl at Bovillae, and the subsequent disorder in Rome, the factions of Pompey and of Cato together with many moderates united to elect Pompey sole Consul, and secured his entrance into office V a. d. Kal. Mart. in the intercalary month (a). He secured new legislation against violence and bribery, and reformed court procedure with measures designed to expedite actions, limit speeches, and increase penalties, including, 1. a Lex de vi, with special reference to the murder of Clodius and the subsequent rioting (b); 2. a Lex de ambitu, so drawn as to permit examination of past acts as far as 70 B. C. (c). There followed the trial and conviction of Milo, and of many other persons who had been involved. Later, after the passage of the law of the Ten Tribunes (see Tribunes of the Plebs), he secured passage of a law to compel candidates for office to make their announcement in person in Rome (d). He also enacted into law a senatorial resolution of the previous year that an interval of five years should elapse between a city magistracy and a provincial command (e). He secured the election of Metellus Scipio, by then his father-in-law, as his colleague for the last five months of the year. His command in Spain was prorogued (see Promagistrates). (f).

Family