Pompey in the East

The most important event in Ancient Rome is Pompey in the East. Although less widely known than Caesar's conquest of Gaul (58-51 BC), Pompey's exploits in the eastern Mediterranean were more important in Rome's expansion. Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, also known as Pompey or Pompey the Great in English, was a prominent Roman general and statesman. He was instrumental in transforming Rome from a republic to an empire. He was a disciple of Roman general Sulla and a political ally and later adversary of Julius Caesar.

Pompey first ventured east in 67 BC as part of his battle against pirates infesting the Mediterranean. After crushing the pirates in three months, Pompey succeeded in command against Rome's long-time foe, Mithradates VI of Pontus, in 66 BC. Pompey, once again victorious, became the first Roman to march an army to the Euphrates River.

With Tigranes as a friend and ally, Rome's protectorate network extended as far east as the Black Sea and the Caucasus. Plutarch lists 20,000 talents in gold and silver added to the treasury, and the annual rise in taxes to the public treasury rose from 50 million to 85 million drachmas. Because of his administrative genius, his dispositions remained virtually intact until the fall of Rome.

Pompey led the operations from 65 to 62 B.C.E., and Rome firmly established authority over much of Asia. He imposed on the rulers of the new eastern provinces an overall settlement that took into account the physical and political issues involved in establishing Rome's new eastern frontier. Pompey returned to Rome and claimed to have fought against twenty-two monarchs in the East.