The humiliating death of Pompey the Great, Rome's most celebrated general

Born in 106 BCE into a wealthy Roman family, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus displayed early signs of military talent and ambition.

His first significant military engagement came during the Social War (91-88 BCE), where he fought alongside his father, Pompeius Strabo, against Rome's Italian allies seeking citizenship.

Pompey's rise to prominence accelerated during the First Mithridatic War (89-85 BCE).

Despite his youth and lack of official command, he raised an army in Picenum to support Sulla in the civil war against Marius and Cinna.

His success in securing Sulla's return to power earned him the title "Magnus" or "the Great" from Sulla himself, a rare honor for someone so young.

In 77 BCE, Pompey further solidified his reputation by defeating the Marian forces in Sicily and Africa during Sulla's second civil war.

His victories were rewarded with a triumph, a prestigious military parade through Rome, despite his non-senatorial rank.

Pompey's most significant military achievements came during his campaigns against the pirates in the Mediterranean (67 BCE) and the defeat of King Mithridates VI of Pontus in the Third Mithridatic War (73-63 BCE).

The pirate campaign, in particular, showcased his logistical prowess and swift execution, as he cleared the seas of pirates within just three months, ensuring the safety of Rome's grain supply.

His victory over Mithridates expanded Rome's territories in the East and further enhanced his standing in Rome.

By the late 60s BCE, Pompey's military successes and popularity positioned him as a leading figure in Roman politics.

He formed the First Triumvirate in 60 BCE with Julius Caesar and Crassus, a political alliance that allowed him to secure a second consulship in 55 BCE and the governorship of Spain. 

The Great Roman Civil War, also known as Caesar's Civil War, erupted in 49 BCE, triggering a pivotal moment in Roman history and the eventual downfall of the Roman Republic.

The conflict was primarily between two of Rome's most powerful figures: Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great.

The First Triumvirate began to unravel following Crassus's death in 53 BCE.

Tensions escalated when Caesar's military successes in Gaul increased his popularity and power, making him a threat to Pompey and the Senate.

In 49 BCE, the Senate, influenced by Pompey, ordered Caesar to disband his army and return to Rome as a private citizen.

Defying the Senate's orders, Caesar crossed the Rubicon River with his army, a direct act of insurrection, with the famous declaration, "The die is cast."

The war saw several key battles and maneuvers, with the first major confrontation occurring at the Battle of Ilerda in Spain, where Caesar's forces defeated Pompey's legates.

Pompey, anticipating a decisive conflict, retreated to Greece, where he could gather more forces.

Caesar pursued Pompey and faced him at the Battle of Dyrrhachium in 48 BCE.

Although Pompey managed to outmaneuver Caesar initially, he failed to capitalize on his advantage.

The decisive battle of the war took place at Pharsalus in Greece on August 9, 48 BCE.

Despite being outnumbered, Caesar's troops achieved a stunning victory, largely due to their superior tactics and the loyalty of Caesar's veteran legions. 

Following his defeat at the Battle of Pharsalus on August 9, 48 BCE, Pompey the Great faced a dire situation.

His once-mighty army was shattered, and he found himself on the losing side of a conflict that would determine the fate of the Roman Republic.

With few options left, Pompey made the fateful decision to flee the battlefield and seek refuge elsewhere.

Pompey's flight took him first to the island of Lesbos, where he was reunited with his wife, Cornelia, and his son.

From there, he sailed to the coast of Cilicia, in modern-day Turkey, gathering what forces he could along the way.

Despite his efforts, the loyalty of his allies and the strength of his forces dwindled rapidly as news of Caesar's victory spread.

In a desperate bid for safety and support, Pompey set his sights on Egypt, a kingdom not yet fully under Rome's control, ruled by the young Pharaoh Ptolemy XIII and his sister, Cleopatra VII.

Pompey hoped that the Egyptian court, with whom he had previous diplomatic relations, would offer him sanctuary and aid in his struggle against Caesar.

Upon his arrival near the shores of Alexandria in September 48 BCE, Pompey sent emissaries to the royal court, requesting permission to land and seek refuge.

However, the situation in Egypt was far from stable. Ptolemy XIII's advisors, fearing that supporting Pompey could provoke Caesar's wrath and further destabilize their own hold on power, made a chilling decision.

Ptolemy XIII's advisors, including the regent Achillas and the rhetorician Theodotus of Chios, calculated that by eliminating Pompey, they could demonstrate their loyalty to Caesar and protect their own precarious positions. 

As Pompey prepared to disembark from his ship near the shores of Pelusium, he was greeted by a small delegation that included Achillas and Lucius Septimius, a former officer in Pompey's own army.

Believing he was being escorted to a meeting with the pharaoh, Pompey was led to a small boat.

Accompanied by only a few of his followers, he was rowed toward the shore. As he stepped onto the Egyptian soil, he was suddenly attacked.

Septimius, betraying his former commander, struck the first blow, followed by Achillas and the other members of the delegation.

Within moments, Pompey was dead, his head severed to be presented as a gift to Caesar.

The brutal murder of Pompey sent shockwaves through the Roman world. His body was left unburied on the beach, a stark departure from the Roman custom of honoring the dead with proper funeral rites.

It was only through the kindness of a freedman and a Roman soldier that Pompey's remains were eventually cremated, and his ashes returned to his wife, Cornelia.

Pompey's assassination in Egypt underscored the ruthless nature of Roman politics and the precariousness of power.

The once-great general, who had commanded armies and enjoyed triumphs, met a tragic and undignified end far from home, a sobering reminder of the fragility of fortune and the consequences of civil war.