Pompey in the East
Pirates
- Problem starts with Roman weakening of Rhodes back in 167
- Cilicia pirates attacked by M. Antonius pr. 102
- Lcoal victories no permanent solution
- Cilicia province from 90s on
- M. Antonius pr. 74 given major command but fails
- Can excise effective command only where he is personally
- Mobile pirates have to be dealt with "globally"
- Pirates threaten grain supply of Rome
- Special election gives Pompey extraordinary powers
- He is allowed to create many independent legates with own imperium
- Precursor of system used by emperors
- Pirates crushed in only 40 days
- Shows how empire needs centralized coordination and control
Pompey in East
- War against Mithridates transferred to Pompey by law in 66
- Pompey makes peace with king of Armenia
- Creates province of Bithynia and Pontus
- Annexes Syria as province in 64
- Makes huge number of administrative decisions
- Acquires vast wealth
- Rome has now assumed administrative and military responsibility for all of Asia Minor and of Syria
- Pompey finally returns to Italy in 61
- Much anxiety in Italy
- Will he return as invader like Sulla?
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