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?