Editing Pompey (section)

==From confrontation to civil war==
[[File:Map of the Ancient Rome at Caesar time (with conquests)-en.svg|thumb|left|upright=1.25|The Roman Empire and satellite states, prior to the outbreak of civil war {{circa}} 49 BC]]

In 54 BC, Caesar continued his conquest of Gaul, Crassus opened his campaign against the Parthians, and Pompey remained in Rome, where his wife Julia died in child birth in September. Contemporary sources suggest that combined with the death of Crassus and his son [[Publius Licinius Crassus (son of triumvir)|
Publius]] at [[Battle of Carrhae|Carrhae]] in May 53 BC, this removed any obstacle to direct confrontation between Caesar and Pompey.<ref>Plutarch, ''Parallel Lives'', ''Life of Caesar'', 23.5–6</ref><ref>Plutarch, ''Parallel Lives'', ''Life of Pompey'', 53.4–6.</ref>{{efn|Historian [[Works attributed to Florus|Florus]] wrote "Pompey could not brook an equal, or Caesar a superior."<ref>Florus, ''Epitome of Roman History'', 2.13.14</ref>}}

Consular elections in 52 BC had to be suspended due to widespread violence. Seeking to end his alliance with Caesar, the ''optimate'' Bibulus proposed Pompey be elected sole consul, an unprecedented act backed by both Cato and the tribunate.{{sfn|Ramsey|2016|pp=307–308}} Having restored order, Pompey married Cornelia, widow of Publius Crassus and daughter of [[Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio Nasica|Metellus Scipio Nasica]], whom he appointed as his colleague for the last five months of the year.{{sfn|Ramsey|2016|p=299}} 

As consul, Pompey helped enact legislation which some historians view as crucial to understanding the drift to war in 49 BC. Accused of using violence during his consulship in 59 BC, Caesar had previously been shielded by his proconsular immunity. With private support from Pompey, new laws made such prosecutions retrospective, which meant Caesar would probably be put on trial the moment he left Gaul and lost his ''[[Imperium]]''.{{sfn|Stanton|2003|p=73}} To avoid this, he had secured approval to stand for the consulship in 48 BC while still in Gaul, but another law backed by Pompey required electoral candidates to be physically present in Rome.{{sfn|Stanton|2003|p=75}} 

Although the two continued to co-operate in public,{{sfn|Stanton|2003|p=67}} Pompey clearly viewed his colleague as a threat, as did much of the Senate. Both consuls for 50 BC, [[Lucius Aemilius Paullus (consul 50 BC)|Paullus]] and [[Gaius Claudius Marcellus (consul 50 BC)|Gaius Claudius]], were opponents of Caesar, as was [[Gaius Scribonius Curio (praetor 49 BC)|Curio]], a plebeian tribune. They initiated legislation to remove Caesar from his command in Gaul, who allegedly bypassed this by bribing Paullus and Curio.{{sfn|Drogula|2019|p=240}} For whatever reason, Curio came up with an alternative proposal; Caesar and Pompey should disarm at the same time, or be declared enemies of the state.{{sfn|Drogula|2019|pp=241–242}}

This was a clever move, since it was popular with those who wanted to avoid war, but unacceptable to the ''optimates'' who saw Caesar as a danger that had to be eliminated.{{sfn|Drogula|2019|p=243}} Rejection made open conflict more likely, and the Senate agreed to fund a consular army, organised by Pompey. When he fell ill while recruiting in [[Naples]], the celebrations that followed his recovery allegedly convinced Pompey his popularity was sufficient to see off any opponent.{{sfn|Collins|1953|p=104}} In December, Caesar crossed the Alps with a single veteran legion and arrived at [[Ravenna]], close to the border with the Roman Republic.{{sfn|Wylle|1992|p=558}}{{efn|Now in Northern Italy, Ravenna was then a federated ally of the [[Roman Republic]]}}

A significant number of senators opposed any concessions to Caesar, but many also mistrusted Pompey, who has been criticised for "weak and ineffectual leadership" in this period.{{sfn|Wylle|1992|pp=557–558}} On 1 January 49 BC, Caesar sent an ultimatum demanding acceptance of his compromise, failing which he would march on Rome "to avenge his country's wrongs". Confident their forces significantly outnumbered those available to Caesar, on 7 January the Senate declared him a public enemy; four days later, he crossed the [[Rubicon]] into Italy.{{sfn|Wylle|1992|p=558}}