21 dic 59 anni a. C. - Pompey joined a political alliance, the so-called First Triumvirate, with the consul Julius Caesar and the censor Marcus Licinius Crassus.

Descrizione:

Julius Caesar was a prominent popularis (singular of populares) politician. Pompey was considered the greatest military commander of his time. This gave him great prestige and popularity. Crassus was a property speculator, the largest landlord, and the richest man in Rome. Pompey and Crassus had extensive patronage networks. The three men formed an alliance with which they could gather sufficient popular support to counter the stranglehold the Roman Senate had over Roman politics. The senate had thwarted some bills these men had sponsored. With this alliance they aimed to overcome the senate's resistance to these bills and to have them passed. The triumvirate lasted from 59 BC to Crassus' death in the Battle of Carrhae, where he was defeated during his campaign against the Parthians in 53 BC, this then created friction between Caesar and Pompey as they had no buffer.[1] The alliance had been kept secret until Pompey and Crassus publicly supported a land law proposed by Caesar in 58 BC. According to Goldsworthy, the alliance was, "not at heart a union of those with the same political ideals and ambitions," but one where "all [were] seeking personal advantage."