- Sextus Pompeius (67-35 BCE) was a powerful opponent of the Roman Generals of the Second Triumvirate, Octavian and Mark Anthony.
- His Father was Pompey the Great, who after losing the Battle of Pharsalus against Julius Caesar fled to Alexandria, Egypt, where he was killed in 48 BCE.
Pompey’s resistance to the Second Triumvirate (45-36 BCE)
- Determined to resist Julius Caesar, Sextus Pompeius and his brother, Gnaeus Pompeius opposed him in Spain at the Battle of Munda 17 March 45 BCE. Gnaeus Pompeius was executed, but Sextus Pompeius escaped to Sicily.
- After the Assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 CE, Sextus Pompeius built a powerful army and navy in Sicily.
- 40 BCE Sextus Pompey’s navy invaded Sardinia.
- 39 BCE Sextus Pompeius signed the Pact of Misenum with the Triumvirs, leaving Mark Anthony free to fight the Parthians.
- 37 BCE Naval Battle of Messina: Sextus Pompey prevented Octavian from taking Sicily, who was defeated again in early 36 BCE.
The end of Pompey’s Resistance
- In 36 BCE at the Battle of Naulochus, Agrippa, Mark Anthony‘s General, finally defeated Sextus Pompeius’s Navy at sea.
- Marcus Lepidus raised 14 Legions in Africa and brought them to Sicily ending the rule of Sextus Pompeius who fled to Miletus.
- In 35 BCE, Sextus Pompeius was captured in Miletus and executed without trial.
Sicily