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

POMPEI US. POMPEIUS. 479
the triumphal car was regarded as one of the general had met with nothing but disasters; and
noblest objects of ambition. he therefore still continued at the head of his army
Having thus succeeded in carrying his point in the neighbourhood of Rome. The senate, howagainst the dictator Pompey again exhibited his ever, hesitated to give him this opportunity for
power in promoting in B.c. 79 the election of M. gaining fresh distinction and additional power;
Aemilius Lepidus to the consulship, in opposition but as Sertorius was now joined by Perperna,
to the wishes of Sulla. Through Pompey's in- and was daily becoming more formidable, it befluence Lepidus was not only elected, but obtained came absolutely necessary to strengthen Metellus;
a greater number of votes than his colleague and as they had no general except Pompey, who
Q. Catulus, who was supported by Sulla. The was either competent or willing to conduct the
latter had now retired from public affairs, and war against Sertorius, they at length unwillingly
would not relinquish his Epicurean enjoyments for determined to send him to Spain, with the title of
the purpose of defeating Pompey's plans, but con- Proconsul, and with equal powers to Metellus.
tented himself with warning the latter, as he met In the debate in the senate which ended in his
him returning from the comitia in triumph, " Young appointment, it was urged that no private man
man, it is time for you not to slumber, for you ought to receive the title of Proconsul, whereupon
have strengthened your rival against yourself." L. Philippus replied with bitter scorn, ill allusion
The words of Sulla were prophetic; for upon his to the insignificance of the existing consuls, "Non
death, which happened in the course of the same ego illum mea sentelltia pro consule, sed pro conyear, Lepidus attempted to repeal the laws of Sulla, sulibus mitto."
and to destroy the aristocratical constitution which In forty days Pompey completed his preparahe had established. He seems to have reckoned tions, and left Italy with an army of 30,000 foot
upon the support of Pompey; but in this he was and 1000 horse, at the beginning of B. c. 76, being
disappointed, for Pompey remained faithful to the then thirty years of age. He crossed the Alps
aristocracy, and thus saved his party. During the between the sources of the Rh6ne and the Po,
year of the consulship of Lepidus and Catulus, and advanced towards the southern coast of Spain.
B. C. 78, peace was with difficulty preserved The Spanish tribes, through which lie marched,
[LEPIDUS, No. 13]; but at the beginning of the did not offer him much resistance, and the town of
following year B. C. 77, Lepidus, who had been Lauron (not far from Valencia) declared in his
ordered by the senate to repair to his province of favour. But the approach of Sertorius quickly
Further Gaul, marched against Rome at the head changed the face of matters, and taught Pompey
of an army, which he had collected in Etruria. that he had a more formidable enemy to deal with
Here Pompey and Catulus were ready to receive than any he had yet encountered. His army was
him; and in the battle which followed under the suddenly surprised by Sertorius, and he was obliged
walls of the city, Lepidus was defeated and obliged to retreat with the loss of a legion. Sertorius folto take to flight. While Catulus followed hini into lowed up his victory by taking the town of Lauron,
Etruria, Pompey marched into Cisalpine Gaul, which he committed to the flames, almost before
where M. Brutus, the father of the so-called ty- Pompey's face. Thus his first campaign in Spain
rannicide, commanded a body of troops on behalf ended ingloriously. He passed the winter in the
of Lepidus. On Pompey's approach Brutus threw Nearer Province, and at the beginning of B. c. 7.5
himself into Mutina, which he defended for some crossed the Iberus, and again marched southward
time, but at length surrendered the town to against C. Herennius and Perperna, the legates of
Pomlpey, on condition that his life should be Sertorius. These he defeated, with great loss,
spared. This was granted by Pompey; but next near Valencia; and elated with his success, and
day he was murdered, by Pompey's orders, at anxious to wipe off the disgrace of the preceding
Rhegium, a small town on the Po, whither he had year, he hastened to attack Sertorius, hoping to
retired after the surrender of Mutina. Pompey was crush him entirely before MWetellus arrived to share
much blamed for this cruel and perfidious act, which the glory with him. Sertorius, who had advanced
was however more in accordance with the spirit of from the west, was equally eager to fight before
his party than his own general conduct. But he the junction of the two Roman armies. The
seems to have acted now in accordance with battle, thus eagerly desired by both generals, was
Sulla's principles; for he likewise put to death fought oil the banks of the Sucro (Xucar). It
Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus, the son of Lepidus, was obstinately contested, but was not decisive.
whom he took prisoner at Alba in Liguria. The The right wing, where Pompey commanded in
war in Italy was now at an end; for Lepidus, person, was put to flight by Sertorius, and Pomlpey
despairing of holding his ground in Etruria, had himself was nearly killed in the pursuit; his left
sailed with the remainder of his forces to Sardinia, wing, however, which was under the command of
where he died shortly afterwards his legate L. Afranius, drove the right wing of
The senate, who now began to dread Pompey, Sertorius's army off the field, and took his camp.
ordered him to disband his army; but he found Night put an end to the battle; and the approach
various excuses for evading this command, as he of Metellus on the following day obliged Sertorius
was anxious to obtain the command of the war to retire. Pompey and Metellus then continued
against Sertorius in Spain. Sertorius was the only together for a time, but were reduced to great
surviving general of the Marian party, who still straits for want of provisions, and were frequently
continued to hold out against the aristocracy. By obliged to sepalrate in order to obtain food and
his extraordinary genius and abilities he had won fodder. On one of these occasions they were
the hearts of the Spaniards, and had for the last attacked at the same time, Pompey by Sertorius,
three years successfully opposed Metellus Pius, and Metellus by Perperna; Metellus defeated the
one of the ablest of Sulla's generals [SERTOaIUS]. latter with a loss of 5000 men, but Pompey was
The misfortunes of Metellus only increased Pom- routed by Sertorius, and lost 6000 of his troops.
pey's eagerness to gain laurels, where a veteran Shortly after this Pompey retired, for the winter,