Pompey the Great

The Roman Alexander

Lee Fratantuono

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English

Pen and Sword
01 February 2025

History; European history; Ancient history: to c 500 CE; Military history

Pompey's career in command began at a young age, taking control of his deceased father's legions in support of Sulla during the civil war with Marius. A precocious and ambitious talent, he held repeated commands before he was the legal age. Sulla called him 'the teenage butcher'. He served in the Sertorian War in Spain (recovering from an early defeat), helped crush Spartacus' revolt then freed the Eastern Mediterranean from the depradations of Cilician pirates in a matter of weeks. He brought a victorious end to the long-running Third Mithridatic War and brought the whole of Asia Minor, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Judea under Roman influence by a mix of force and diplomacy. For good reason he was hailed even in his own lifetime as the 'Roman Alexander' and Lee Fratantuono gives these events the detailed coverage they deserve.

All this came before the events for which he is usually remembered: his great civil war against Julius Caesar. There is detailed analysis of the opening moves in Italy, Pompey's victory over Caesar at Dyrrhachium and the climactic battle at Pharsalus in September 48 BC. Pompey was defeated, fled ignominiously and was assassinated, leaving his two sons to carry on the war.

AUTHOR: Dr Lee Fratantuono is Adjunct Professor of Ancient Classics at the National University of Ireland-Maynooth. His previous work includes The Battle of Actium 31 BC (Pen & Sword Books, 2016), Caligula, an Unexpected General (2018) and Roman Conquests: Mesopotamia and Arabia (Pen & Sword Books, 2020), and Diocletian and the Military Restoration of Rome (Pen & Sword Books, 2023)

By: Lee Fratantuono
Imprint: Pen and Sword
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781526795700
ISBN 10: 1526795701
Pages: 384
Publication Date: 01 February 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Dr Lee Fratantuono is Adjunct Professor of Ancient Classics at the National University of Ireland-Maynooth. His previous work includes The Battle of Actium 31 BC (Pen & Sword Books, 2016), Caligula, an Unexpected General (2018) and Roman Conquests: Mesopotamia and Arabia (Pen & Sword Books, 2020), and Diocletian and the Military Restoration of Rome (Pen & Sword Books, 2023)

Reviews for Pompey the Great: The Roman Alexander

""This sympathetic biography offers a smooth read through his ambitious life, complete with analysis of his political decisions.""-- ""Historical Miniatures Gaming Society""