Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo

Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo (c. 135 – 87 BC) was a Roman general and politician. He served as consul in 89 BC. He is often called Pompey Strabo to tell him apart from his son, the famous Pompey the Great, and from Strabo the geographer.

The name Strabo means "cross-eyed". He lived in the Roman Republic and came from a noble family in Picenum, which is in the modern areas of Marche and Abruzzo in central Italy, near the Adriatic Coast. His mother was named Lucilia, and her family was from Suessa Aurunca, now called Sessa Aurunca. Lucilia was the sister of the poet Gaius Lucilius, who was a friend of the Roman general Scipio Aemilianus. Strabo's grandfather was Gnaeus Pompeius, and his father was Sextus Pompeius. He had an older brother named Sextus Pompeius and a sister named Pompeia.

Career

Strabo came from a well-known and wealthy family in Picenum, a region in central Italy. The Pompeii family had a lot of influence in both Picenum and Rome. After serving in the military, Strabo moved up through the ranks and became a leader in Sicily in 93 BC and later a consul, a top Roman leader, in 89 BC during a big conflict called the Social War.

During this war, Strabo led Roman forces against Italian groups that wanted to break away from Rome. He gathered soldiers from his home region and fought several battles. Though sometimes outnumbered, he managed to win important battles and became very popular. His success helped him become one of Rome’s two consuls in 89 BC. After his time as consul ended, Strabo celebrated his victories with a big parade called a triumph. He kept his soldiers together and later helped Rome during another conflict, though he was careful not to fully support either side.

Death

In 87 BC, Strabo and his army set up camp outside the Colline Gate. Bad conditions in the camp caused many soldiers to get sick. Strabo also got very ill and passed away a few days later while still in the camp.

His son, Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, led the army back to Picenum. Later, he helped a leader named Sulla. Strabo had at least two children: a son and a daughter, who later married Publius Cornelius Sulla.

In his memory, two cities were named after him: Alba Pompeia and Laus Pompeia.