Editing Pompey (section)

==Return to Rome and the First Triumvirate==
[[File:Faustus Cornelius Sulla, AR denarius, 56 BC, RRC 426-4a.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.15|Denarius minted in 56&nbsp;BC by Pompey's supporter [[Faustus Cornelius Sulla (quaestor 54 BC)|Faustus Sulla]]{{efn|The three wreaths on the reverse refer to the three triumphs of Pompey; the top wreath is the [[Roman military decorations and punishments|''corona aurea'']] he received in 62; the globe in the center is a copy of the one paraded during the third triumph; the aplustre on the lower left alludes to his victory against the pirates}}<ref>{{harvnb|Crawford|1974|pp=449–451}}, though he only links the aplustre with Pompey's ''[[Cura Annonae|cura annonae]]'' of 57.</ref>{{sfn|De Souza|2002|p=174}}]]

Before his return to Italy in 62 BC, Pompey paid his troops bonuses totalling around 16,000 [[Talent (measurement)|talents]],{{sfn|Leach|1978|p=101}}{{efn|A Roman talent was roughly 32 kilograms of gold, making this distribution worth over $32 billion using 2023 prices}} but despite fears he intended to follow Sulla's example, they were dismissed upon arrival at Brundisium.{{sfn|Mitchell|1973|p=1}} His journey to Rome drew huge crowds wherever he stopped, showing that although opinion in the Senate was divided, Pompey remained as popular as ever with the masses. He was awarded a third triumph for his achievements in Asia Minor, celebrated on his 45th birthday in 61&nbsp;BC.{{sfn|Beard|2015|p=273}}

Pompey claimed the new provinces established in the East had increased annual state income from 200 million to 340 million [[Sestertius|sesterces]], plus an additional payment of 480 million sesterces to the treasury.{{sfn|Leach|1978|p=118}} He refused to provide details of his personal fortune, but given the amounts declared publicly, this must have been enormous. Some of it was used to build one of the most famous structures of Ancient Rome, the [[Theatre of Pompey]].{{sfn|Kuritz|1987|p=48}}

However, the Senate then refused to ratify the treaties agreed by Pompey as part of his settlement of the East. Opposition was led by the ''optimates'' [[Cato the Younger]] and [[Quintus Caecilius Metellus Celer|Metellus Celer]], whose sister Mucia had recently been divorced by Pompey, for reasons still disputed.{{sfn|Haley|1985|p=53}}{{efn|The divorce may also have been a factor in the defection of [[Quintus Caecilius Metellus Nepos (consul 57 BC)|Metellus Nepos]], previously one of Pompey's main supporters, although the Metelli had their own political ambitions.{{sfn|Mitchell|1973|p=6}}}} They also defeated a bill to distribute farmland to his veterans, and landless members of the urban poor. A similar measure had been rejected in 63 BC, which arguably made the Senate over confident in their ability to control popular unrest.{{sfn|Mitchell|1973|p=2}}

[[File:First Triumvirate of Caesar, Crassius and Pompey.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|left|The [[First Triumvirate]]; left to right, [[Julius Caesar|Caesar]], [[Marcus Licinius Crassus|Crassus]], and Pompey]]

Although Pompey could not overcome ''optimate'' opposition on his own, the situation changed when Marius' nephew [[Julius Caesar]] sought his endorsement for the consulship in 59 BC. A skilled, unscrupulous, and ambitious politician, Caesar used this alliance to harness Pompey's influence with the urban electorate.{{sfn|Mitchell|1973|p=3}} With additional support from Crassus, Caesar became one of the two consuls for 59&nbsp;BC, the other being the ''optimate'' [[Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus]]. This meant Caesar could help pass legislation sponsored by Pompey and Crassus, while it was in his interest to keep them aligned, an important factor given the rivalry between his two patrons.{{sfn|Leach|1978|pp=120–121}}

Despite appearing to be the most junior, Caesar thus became central to the [[First Triumvirate]], an informal political alliance designed to counter-balance the ''optimates''. Pompey's influence was based on his reputation as a military commander, and popularity with the Roman people.{{sfn|Mitchell|1973|p=17}} Crassus' wealth allowed him to construct extensive patronage networks, but he lacked the military clout essential for political success in the [[Crisis of the Roman Republic|late Republican era]].{{sfn|Beard|2015|p=275}}

[[File:Bust of Cicero (1st-cent. BC) - Palazzo Nuovo - Musei Capitolini - Rome 2016.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|right|[[Marcus Tullius Cicero]], leader of ''optimate'' opposition to the triumvirate who became an ally of Pompey]]

Once elected, Caesar secured the passage of a new agrarian bill, helped by Pompey's veterans, who filled the streets of Rome and allegedly intimidated the Senate. When Bibulus opposed the measure, he was attacked in the [[Roman Forum|forum]], and spent the rest of his consulship under virtual house arrest.{{Sfn|Beard|2015|p=282}} Caesar then ensured ratification of Pompey's settlements in the east, while the ''[[Lex Vatinia]]'' made him governor of Gallia Cisalpina and [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]]. He was also assigned [[Gallia Transalpina]] after its governor died in office, before leaving Rome to launch the [[Gallic Wars]] in 58 BC. His alliance with Pompey was strengthened when the latter married Caesar's daughter Julia.{{sfn|Haley|1985|p=53}}

Senatorial opposition to the triumvirate was led by [[Marcus Tullius Cicero|Cicero]], a long-standing Pompeian ally. Despite this, the latter supported the populist politician [[Publius Clodius Pulcher]] in an attack on Cicero for executing Roman citizens without trial during the [[Catilinarian conspiracy]].{{sfn|Holland|2004|pp=238–239}} Although Clodius succeeded in having Cicero exiled, he was recalled to Rome by Pompey eighteen months later in 58 BC.{{sfn|Holland|2004|p=254}} As a result, when shortages of grain caused popular unrest in 57 BC, a grateful Cicero backed Pompey's appointment as ''[[praefectus annonae]]'', a temporary position set up for such occasions.{{sfn|Holland|2004|p=254}}

Pompey and Crassus were competing for command of a new expedition to Asia Minor, and in 56 BC they [[Luca Conference|met]] with Caesar to resolve these issues. Although Crassus was a long-standing rival, there are also indications Pompey felt his status as the foremost soldier of the Republic was threatened by Caesar's success in [[Gallic Wars|Gaul]].{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2006|p=253}} With this in mind, Pompey set aside his differences with Crassus to promote their joint candidature as consuls for 55&nbsp;BC. With Caesar's support, they were duly elected after prolonged periods of the violence which had become a feature of Roman political campaigns.{{sfn|Collins|1953|p=104}} 

Once in office, they ensured passage of a law giving Crassus the province of Syria and command of a punitive expedition against Parthia, providing him opportunities for both military glory and loot. Pompey was assigned the restive provinces of Hispania, along with Africa, while Caesar's governorships in Gaul were extended. All three men were given these positions for a period of five years, as well as the right to levy troops and "make peace and war with whomsoever they pleased."{{sfn|Collins|1953|p=104}}