Pompeius Strabo

Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo (died 87 BC), whose cognomen means "Squinty", is often referred to in English as Pompey Strabo to distinguish him from Strabo the geographer. Gn. Pompeius Strabo was a Roman from the rural Italian district of Picenum, that lay between the Apennines and the Adriatic. He became the first of his branch of the gens Pompeia to achieve senatorial status in Rome, despite the anti-rural prejudice of the Roman Senate. After proving his military talent, Strabo climbed the cursus honorum and became propraetor in Sicily 93 BC and consul in the year 89 BC, in the midst of the Social War.

Strabo commanded Roman forces against the Italian Allies in the northern part of Italy. His three Roman legions were instrumental in Rome's victory. After his consulship and the war, Strabo retired to Picenum with all of his veteran soldiers. He remained there until 87 BC, when he responded to Lucius Cornelius Sulla's request for help against Gaius Marius. Strabo had the habit of playing both ends against the middle in the intense politics of the period. Sulla arranged to remove Strabo from command and replace him with a handpicked confederate. Strabo left camp on "personal business" while his soldiers killed the replacement. Later, when Strabo died of plague, a mob dragged his body through the streets until a tribune interceded. Strabo's son, the famous Pompey the Great, took the legions back to Picenum once again.

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 * 1911 Ency. brit. under "2. GNAEUS POMPEIUS,"

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