34 moments

1. Birth in Picenum

   0106-09-29 BC · Picenum, Italy

   

   Pompey was born in Picenum, the central-Adriatic region that formed the base of his family’s political and military clientele. Picenum was a region; coordinates are a representative regional point.

2. Service at Asculum

   0089-01-01 BC · Asculum, Picenum, Italy

   

   Pompey served under his father during the Social War at Asculum, an early documented military presence. Ancient Asculum corresponds to modern Ascoli Piceno.

3. Joining Sulla from Picenum

   0083-01-01 BC · Picenum, Italy

   

   Pompey led a privately raised legion south from Picenum to join Sulla during the civil war. The source establishes departure from Picenum but not a precise starting settlement.

4. Campaign at Spoletium

   0082-01-01 BC · Spoletium, Umbria, Italy

   

   During Sulla’s civil war, Pompey advanced along the Via Flaminia and besieged Carrinas at Spoletium. Ancient Spoletium corresponds to modern Spoleto.

5. Landing in Sicily

   0082-01-01 BC · Sicily, Italy

   

   Pompey landed in Sicily with a large force during the elimination of surviving Marian opponents. The landing site is not specified; coordinates represent Sicily.

6. Battle of Utica

   0081-01-01 BC · Utica, Tunisia

   

   Pompey sailed from Sicily to Roman Africa and defeated Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus at Utica. Date is approximate within Pompey’s African campaign of 82–81 BC.

7. Return and first triumph

   0081-01-01 BC · Rome, Italy

   

   After his African campaign, Pompey returned to Rome and celebrated his first triumph.

8. Siege of Mutina

   0077-01-01 BC · Mutina, Cisalpine Gaul, Italy

   

   Pompey moved north and besieged Mutina during the suppression of Lepidus’ rebellion. Ancient Mutina corresponds to modern Modena.

9. Winter quarters near Narbo Martius

   0077-01-01 BC · Narbo Martius, Gallia Narbonensis, France

   

   On his way to Hispania, Pompey’s army took winter quarters near Narbo Martius after suppressing a rebellion in Gallia Narbonensis. Ancient Narbo Martius corresponds to Narbonne.

10. Crossing the Col de Portet

    0076-01-01 BC · Col de Portet, Pyrenees, France-Spain border

    

    Pompey crossed the Col de Portet into the Iberian Peninsula at the beginning of his long Sertorian campaign. Coordinates identify the mountain-pass area.

11. Defeat at Lauron

    0076-01-01 BC · Lauron, Hispania

    

    Pompey fought Sertorius at Lauron and suffered a major defeat in the first year of his Iberian command. The exact site of ancient Lauron is disputed; coordinates are a representative point in the commonly proposed Valencian area.

12. Battle of Saguntum

    0075-01-01 BC · Saguntum, Hispania

    

    Pompey and Metellus fought Sertorius at Saguntum during the same campaign season. Ancient Saguntum corresponds to Sagunto.

13. Battle of Sucro

    0075-01-01 BC · Sucro River area, Hispania

    

    Pompey engaged Sertorius in the indecisive Battle of Sucro before the subsequent fighting at Saguntum. The ancient Sucro battlefield is conventionally placed near the lower Júcar River; coordinates are representative.

14. Battle outside Valentia

    0075-01-01 BC · Valentia, Hispania

    

    Pompey defeated Perperna and Gaius Herennius outside Valentia during the Sertorian War. Ancient Valentia corresponds to Valencia.

15. Winter among the Vaccaei

    0075-01-01 BC · Vaccaei territory, Hispania

    

    Shortage of supplies forced Pompey to winter among the Vaccaei on the northern Meseta. The Vaccaei occupied a broad territory; coordinates are a representative point near Valladolid.

16. Battle near Osca

    0073-01-01 BC · Osca, Hispania

    

    Pompey defeated Perperna near Osca, effectively ending organized Sertorian resistance. The date is conventionally given as 73 or 72 BC; 73 BC is used as the maximum defensible single-year approximation.

17. Return to Italy after the Sertorian War

    0071-01-01 BC · Italy

    

    Pompey returned from Hispania to Italy shortly before Crassus defeated Spartacus’ main rebel army. The source does not identify his Italian landing place or route.

18. Battle of Korakesion

    0067-01-01 BC · Korakesion, Cilicia, Turkey

    

    Pompey led the decisive assault on the pirate stronghold at Korakesion, ending his campaign against the pirates. Korakesion is modern Alanya.

19. Battle of the Lycus

    0066-01-01 BC · Lycus River, Pontus, Turkey

    

    Pompey pursued Mithridates into Armenia and defeated him at the Lycus late in 66 BC. Coordinates are a representative point for the generally identified Lycus battle area near modern Tokat.

20. Arrival at Phasis

    0065-01-01 BC · Phasis, Colchis, Georgia

    

    During his Caucasian expedition, Pompey reached Phasis and linked up with his Euxine fleet’s admiral. Ancient Phasis is associated with modern Poti.

21. Wintering in Armenia

    0065-01-01 BC · Armenia

    

    Pompey wintered in Armenia while mediating disputes between Phraates and Tigranes. The winter quarters are not specified; coordinates are a representative point in Armenia.

22. Annexation campaign in Syria

    0064-01-01 BC · Syria

    

    Pompey spent 64 BC annexing Syrian cities into a new Roman province. The source describes activity across Syria rather than one named headquarters or city.

23. Arrival in Damascus

    0063-01-01 BC · Damascus, Syria

    

    Pompey arrived in Damascus and received delegations from the rival Hasmonean claimants Hyrcanus and Aristobulus.

24. Departure from Antioch

    0063-01-01 BC · Antioch, Syria

    

    Pompey left Antioch early in 63 BC and began his southward march through the Levant. Ancient Antioch is near modern Antakya, Turkey.

25. March to Jericho

    0063-01-01 BC · Jericho, Judea

    

    Pompey advanced into Judea as far as Jericho, where Aristobulus met him before the Jerusalem campaign. Ancient Jericho is represented by the modern Jericho area.

26. Siege and entry into Jerusalem

    0063-01-01 BC · Temple Mount, Jerusalem

    

    Pompey besieged Jerusalem, captured the Temple precinct, and entered the Holy of Holies. The siege lasted three months; the exact day of entry is not supplied.

27. Arrival at Brundisium

    0062-01-01 BC · Brundisium, Italy

    

    On returning from the East, Pompey arrived at Brundisium and dismissed his troops. Ancient Brundisium corresponds to Brindisi.

28. Conference at Luca

    0056-01-01 BC · Luca, Cisalpine Gaul, Italy

    

    Pompey met Caesar and Crassus at Luca to renew their political alliance and arrange the next distribution of provincial commands. Luca is modern Lucca.

29. Recruiting illness at Naples

    0049-01-01 BC · Naples, Italy

    

    Pompey fell ill while recruiting at Naples shortly before the outbreak of civil war with Caesar. The source places this episode before Caesar crossed the Rubicon in January 49 BC.

30. Withdrawal to Brundisium

    0049-01-01 BC · Brundisium, Italy

    

    Pompey withdrew south from Rome to Brundisium with senators and public officials, then crossed the Adriatic with his troops. Ancient Brundisium corresponds to Brindisi.

31. Fortified camp near Dyrrhachium

    0048-01-01 BC · Dyrrhachium, Illyria, Albania

    

    Pompey reached the Dyrrhachium area in time to block Caesar’s attempt on the supply base and established a fortified camp across the Apus River. Coordinates identify ancient Dyrrhachium, modern Durrës; the camp was on the other side of the Apus River.

32. Refuge at Mytilene

    0048-08-01 BC · Mytilene, Lesbos, Greece

    

    After the defeat at Pharsalus, Pompey escaped to Mytilene and reunited with Cornelia. Arrival followed the battle of 9 August 48 BC; the source does not provide a more precise arrival date.

33. Battle of Pharsalus

    0048-08-09 BC · Palaepharsalus battlefield, Thessaly, Greece

    

    Pompey commanded the Republican army at Pharsalus, where Caesar decisively defeated him. The battlefield’s precise ancient location remains debated; coordinates follow the Palaepharsalus identification used by the source.

34. Arrival and death at Pelusium

    0048-09-28 BC · Pelusium, Egypt

    

    Pompey sailed to Egypt, arrived at Pelusium, and was killed after going ashore to meet an official delegation. The exact site of ancient Pelusium is represented by the archaeological area east of the Nile Delta.