1. Journal of Ancient History 3 (290)
  2. Pompey’s Imperium Revisited

Pompey’s Imperium Revisited

Lyubimova Olga V.

The author of the article contests the hypothesis advanced by A.V. Koptev that in the late 80s and in 70s BC Pompey was not a privatus cum imperio, but had twice obtained praetorship and thereby held military commands. It is argued in the article that the theoretical model of imperium and its relationship with auspicia and lex curiata developed by A.V. Koptev contains inherent logical contradictions, and the evidence on which it is based is characterized elsewhere as unreliable by A.V. Koptev himself. Besides, his analysis of the political events of the last decades of the Republic contains a number of factual errors substantially undermining his argumentation. Finally, A.V. Koptev has not succeeded in refuting convincingly the bulk of ancient evidence according to which Pompey had been privatus cum imperio before his first consulship. The author of the article considers improbable A.V. Koptev’s view that all this evidence does not reflect the reality, but only political propaganda.

Keywords: Pompey, Cicero, Livy, imperium, auspices, magustrate, promagistrate, praetor, legate, privatus cum imperio
References:
  1. Smorchkov A.M. 2012: Religija i vlast' v Rimskoj respublike: magistraty, zhrecy, hramy. M.
  2. Korolenkov A.V. 2007: Lucij Kornelij Scipion: konsul, dvazhdy ostavlennyj vojskom // Studia historica. VII, 107–122.
  3. Koptev A.V. 2013: Gnej Pompej Magn – privatus cum imperio // VDI. 4, 85–111.
  4. Alexander M.C. 1990: Trials in the Late Roman Republic, 149 BC to 50 BC. Toronto–Buffalo–London.
  5. Astin A. 1957–1958: The lex annalis before Sulla // Latomus 16. 4, 588–613; 17. 1, 49–64.
  6. Astin A.E. 1967: Scipio Aemilianus. Oxf.
  7. Badian E. 1955: The Date of Pompey’s First Triumph // Hermes. 83, 107–118.
  8. Badian E. 1961: Servilius and Pompey’s First Triumph // Hermes. 89, 254–256.
  9. Balsdon J.P.V.D. 1939: Consular Provinces under the Late Republic. I. General Considerations // JRS. 29. 57–73.
  10. Beard M. 2007: The Roman Triumph. Cambr. (Mass.)–L.
  11. Brennan T.C. 2000: The Praetorship in the Roman Republic. Oxf.
  12. Broughton T.R.S. 1952: The Magistrates of the Roman Republic. Vol. II. N.Y.
  13. Carney T.F. 1959: The Promagistracy at Rome 121–81 B.C. // Acta Classica. 2, 72–77.
  14. Cuff P.J. 1958: The Terminal Date of Caesar's Gallic Command // Historia. 7, 445–471.
  15. Dahlmann H. 1935: Terentius (84) // RE. Splbd. 6. Sp. 1172–1277.
  16. Gruen E.S. 1974: The Last Generation of the Roman Republic. Berkeley–Los Angeles–London.
  17. Humm M. 2012: The Curiate Law and the Religious Nature of the Power of Roman Magistrates // Law and Religion in the Roman Republic / O. Tellegen-Couperus (ed.). Leiden–Boston, 57–84.
  18. Jashemski W.F. 1950: The origins and history of the proconsular and propraetorian imperium to 27 B.C. Chicago.
  19. Leach J. 1978: Pompey the Great. L.
  20. Mader G. 2006: Triumphal Elephants and Political Circus at Plutarch, «Pomp.» 14. 6 // The Classical World. 99, 397–403.
  21. Marshall A.J. 1972: The Lex Pompeia de provinciis (52 B.C.) and Cicero’s Imperium in 51–50 B.C.: Constitutional Aspects // ANRW. I. 1, 887–921.
  22. Mommsen Th. 1876: Römisches Staatsrecht. 2. Aufl. Bd I. Lpz.
  23. Mommsen Th. 1887: Römisches Staatsrecht. 3. Aufl. Bd I. Lpz.
  24. Nicolet C. 1966: L’ordre équestre à l’époque républicaine (312–43 av. -C.). P.
  25. Rich J.W. 1996: Augustus and the spolia opima // Chiron. 26, 85–127.
  26. Richardson J.S. 1991: Imperium Romanum: Empire and the Language of Power // JRS. 81, 1–9.
  27. Santangelo F. 2007: Sulla, the Elites and the Empire. Leiden–Boston.
  28. Seager R. 2002: Pompey: A Political Biography. Oxf.
  29. Shackleton Bailey D.R. 2004a: Cicero’s Letters to Atticus. Vol. 3 (Books V–VII. 9). Cambr.
  30. Shackleton Bailey D.R. 2004b: Cicero: Epistulae ad Familiares. Vol. 1, 62–47 B.C. Cambr.
  31. Smith R.E. 1960: Pompey’s Conduct in 80 and 77 B. C. // Phoenix. 14, 1–13.
  32. Stevens C.E. 1938: The Terminal Date of Caesar’s Command // AJPh. 59, 169–208.
  33. Sumner G.V. 1973: The Orators in Cicero’s Brutus: Prosopography and Chronology. Toronto–Buffalo.