A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

474 POMPEIUS. POMPEIUS.
victim to the cruelties of Commodus, but more Laenas referred the matter to the senate, to which
trustworthy authorities represent him as having the Numantine legates accordingly repaired. Pomlived on to the reign of Severus. (Dion Cass. peius persisted in the same lie; the senate declared
lxxi. 3, 20, lxxiii. 3; Herodian. i. 8. ~ 6; Ca- the treaty invalid; and the war was accordingly
pitolin. M. Aur. 20; Vulcat. Gallican. Avid. Cass. renewed. Pompeius escaped all punishment for
11; Lamprid. Commod.) [W. R.] this conduct in relation to the treaty: he was,
POMPEIA'NUS, CLAU'DIUS QUINTIA'- however, accused shortly afterwards of extortion in
NUS, a young senator, husband of the daughter his province, but was fortunate enough to obtain
of Lucilla, was persuaded by his mother-in-law to an acquittal, although some of the most eminent
attempt the life of Commodus, with whom he lived men at Rome, such as Q. Metellus Macedonicus
on terms of familiar intimacy, and having failed and L. Metellus Calvus, bore witness against him.
was put to death. (Dion Cass. lxxii. 4, and note of (Val. Max. viii. 5. ~ 1; Cic. pro Font. 7.) His
Reimarus; Herodian. i. 8; Lamprid. Comtnod. 4; want of success in Spain did not lose him the
Amm. Marc. xxix. 4.) [W. R.] favour of the people, for he was elected censor in
POMPEIUS. In the following account we give B. C. 131 with Q. Metellus Macedonicus, the first
first the family of Q. Pompeius, consul B. C. 141, time that both censors were chosen from the plebs.
and next that of the triumvir. The lives of the (Appian, Hisp. 76-79; Liv. Epit. 54, 59; Oros.
various persons mentioned below are treated at v. 4; Cic. de Off. iii. 30, de Fig. ii. 17.)
length by Drumann (Gescdchcte Roms, vol iv. 4. PoMPEIUS, is mentioned as one of the oppop. 306, &c.), to whom we refer our readers once nents of Tib. Gracchus in B. c. 133: he stated
for all. The Stemma on the opposite page is taken that, as he lived near Gracchus, he knew that
from Drumann, and is in some parts conjectural. Eudemus of Pergamum had given a diadem out of
1. L. POMPEIUS, tribune of the soldiers, B. C. the royal treasures and a purple robe to Gracchus,
171, in the army of the consul P. Crassus, when and he also promised to accuse the latter as soon
the latter was carrying on war against Perseus, as his year of office as tribune had expired. (Plut.
king of Macedonia (Liv. xlii. 66). Tib. Gracch. 14; Oros. v. 8.) Drumann makes
2. A. PoMrPoEs, is said to have been a flute- this Pompeius the son of No. 3, and likewise triplayer, a report probably invented by the aristo- bune of the plebs for B. C. 132; but although neicracy for the purpose of degrading his son, a novus ther of these suppositions is impossible, there is
hllorno (Plut. Reg. et Imperat. Apopth. p. 200). still no authority for them. It is not impossible
3. Q. PoMPEIms, A. F., the son of the preceding that this Pompeius is the same as the preceding;
[No. 2], was of humble origin; but we know and as the latter very likely possessed public land,
nothing of his early career, nor of the means by he would be ready enough to oppose Gracchus,
which he first came into public notice. Since, although he had previously belonged to the popular
however, Cicero speaks of him (Brut. 25) as no party. We have likewise seen from his conduct
mean orator, distinction in oratory may have paved in the Numantine war that he had no great regard
the way for him as it did for so many other Romans for truth.
to the higher offices of the state. He was consul 5. POMPEIA, daughter of No. 3, married C.
B.C. 141 with Cn. Servilius Caepio, and gained Sicinius. [POMPRIA, No. 1.]
his election in opposition to Laelius by assuring 6. Q. -POMPEIUS Q. F. RUFUS, either son or
Scipio that he did not intend to become a candi- grandson of No. 3, was a zealous supporter of the
date for the office, and then entering upon a vigor- aristocratical -party. In his tribunate of the plebs,
ous canvass after he had thus thrown the friends of B. C. 100, he brought forward a bill, in conjunction
Laelius off their guard. Scipio had previously with his colleague L. Cato, for the recal of Mebeen on friendly terms with Pompeius, but now tellus Macedonicus from banishment (Oros. v. 17.)
renounced all further connection with him. (Plut. He was praetor B. C. 91 (Cic. de Orat. i. 37), and
1. c.; Cic. Lael. 21.) Pompeius in his consulship consul, B.c. 88, with L. Sulla. In the latter year the
was sent into. Nearer Spain as the successor of Q. civil war broke out between Marius and Sulla reMetellus (Val. Max. ix. 3. ~ 7), and not of Fabmus specting the command of the Mithridatic war.
Maximus Servilianus, who commanded in Further The history of these events is related in the life of
Spain (Appian, Hisp. 68). Pompeius was unsuc- MARIus [p. 957]; and it is only necessary to
cessfull in Spain: he experienced several defeats mention here that the tribune P. Sulpicius Rufus,
from the enemy, and in vain laid siege to Nu- who was the great agent of Marius, had previously
mantia. His troops, which he kept encamped been the personal friend of Pompeius; but such
before the walls of this town during the winter, was the exasperation of political feeling, that Sulpiperished in great numbers through the cold and cius had recourse to arms against his former friend,
disease; and, accordingly, fearing that the aristo- in order to carry his measure for incorporating the
cracy would call him to account on his return to new citizens among the old tribes. In the riots
Rome, he proposed to the Numantines terms of which ensued, the young son of Pompeius was
peace. He required from them publicly an un- murdered. Pompeius himself was deprived of his
conditional surrender; but in private only de- consulship and fled to Nola, where Sulla had a
Inanded from them hostages, the captives and powerful army. At the head of. these troops the
deserters, and also thirty talents. The Numan- two consuls speedily returned to Rome, and protines, who were weary of the war, gladly purchased scribed Marius and his leading partizans. Sulla
peace on these conditions, and immediately paid then set out for the East to conduct the war against
part of the money; but on the arrival of M. Popil- Mithridates, leaving Italy in charge- of Pompeius.
lius Laenas in Spain shortly afterwards (B. C. 139), To the latter was assigned the army of Cu. Pomas the successor of Pompeius, the latter, who was peius Strabo, who was still engaged in carrying on
now released from the responsibility of the war, war against the Marsi; but Strabo, who was unhad the effrontery to disown the treaty, although it willing to be deprived of the command, caused
had been witnessed by the officers of his own army. Pompeius Rufus to be murdered by the soldiers