Pompey's campaign against the pirates
Conflict between the Roman Republic and the Cilician pirates / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pompey's campaign against the pirates refers to the final phase of the campaigns conducted by the Roman Republic against pirates infesting the eastern Mediterranean coast and damaging the eastern Roman provinces, completed in about 40 days under the command of Pompey in 67 BCE.[1][8]
The pirates no longer sailed in small groups, but in large hosts, and they had their own commanders, who increased their fame [by their exploits]. They despoiled and plundered first of all those who sailed, not leaving them alone even in winter [...]; then also those who were in the ports. And if one dared to challenge them on the open sea, he was usually defeated and destroyed. If he then managed to beat them, he was unable to capture them, because of the speed of their ships. So the pirates would go right back and loot and burn not only villages and farms, but whole towns, while others made them allies, so much so that they wintered there and set up bases for new operations, as if it were a friendly country.
āāCassius Dio, Roman History, XXXVI, 21.1-3.
Pompey's campaign against the pirates | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part of the Wars of the Roman Republic | |||||||
Bust of Pompey | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
Roman Republic and Rhodes[1] | Pirates | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Pompey | |||||||
Strength | |||||||
270[2]/500[3] ships 120,000 soldiers[2][3] 4,000[2] /5,000[3] horsemen | More than 1,000 ships[4] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
377[5] /800 ships captured[6] 10,000 dead[5] 20,000 captured[7] 120 cities captured[5] |
This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. (January 2024) |