Chapter 69: The Spark of Conflict
Chapter 69: The Spark of Conflict
Pompey and his army of 60,000 exerted immense pressure simply by their presence.
After landing in Brundisium, Pompey hosted a modest banquet to ease the fatigue of his troops.
Meanwhile, the Senate remained on high alert, monitoring Pompey’s every move. Sulla had previously enacted strict laws to prevent anyone from seizing power through military force as he had. According to these laws, a commander leading a legion was required to disband his army at the Rubicon River when returning from the north, and at Brundisium when returning from the south. Additionally, the commander was prohibited from entering Rome until the day of the election.
However, the Senate lacked the power to enforce these laws effectively. It was feasible for Pompey to march on the capital and establish a dictatorship similar to Sulla’s.
The Senate’s only recourse was to pass popular laws and bolster their support among the citizens, hoping that Pompey would refrain from rash actions if they maintained strong public favor.
Marcus, too, was keenly interested in Pompey’s next move. He had previously warned Pompey that the Senate would be looking for ways to restrain him. Although Pompey had disregarded his advice at the time, a year had passed since then, and perhaps Pompey had reconsidered his stance.
Marcus mused, ‘It would be easier for me if he persisted with the reorganization plan.’
Given the numerous variables depending on Pompey’s decisions, it was impossible for Marcus to prepare for every possible scenario.
Fortunately or unfortunately, a letter from Pompey arrived before Marcus could react. It was a letter Pompey had written before leaving the East.
My dear Marcus,
I heard of your remarkable achievements all the way in Damascus. I always knew you would rise to prominence.
Thanks to your early efforts, the knights cooperated loyally, and I was able to complete the reorganization smoothly.
You will soon see me returning with a wealth of spoils. The only disappointment is that Hominus, who served as my agent, failed to be re-elected. But I no longer need anything from Hominus, do I? I trust you agree.
Marcus chuckled as he read this part of the letter. He could easily imagine Pompey’s state of mind while writing it.
He continued reading, noting Pompey’s pride:
I promised my soldiers that I would allocate farmland as retirement pay, but I have no intention of giving away my own land. Considering what my soldiers and I have accomplished, Rome should provide public land for us. Even if the Senate resists, the citizens will support me if I take a stand myself.
I understand that there is anxiety among the citizens about a possible conflict between me and the Senate, but as I stated before, I have no intention of such a confrontation. As proof, I will disband my army within fifteen days of arriving in Brundisium. If I show this level of respect to the Senate, they should accept my demands. After all, they are nobles with honor and conscience.
One last thing—there is a rumor that my wife Mucia is involved with several men, including your father-in-law. If you have the opportunity, please investigate this for me. If it proves true, I will need to find a new wife after the election. Let’s meet again at next year’s election.
Marcus shook his head with a wry smile. “Ha, Pompey… I told you so.”
Marcus sighed as he put down the letter. Julia, noticing his sigh, approached him and glanced at the letter. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she skimmed through it.
“He really disbanded his army without securing any promises from the Senate? How can he be so naive?”
“I expected him to do that. That’s why I advised him to at least secure a commitment on the reorganization plan, but it seems he didn’t listen.”
“Hmm… The Senate won’t let him off easily. From my father’s perspective, Pompey is just… well, I feel sorry for him as his friend’s daughter.”
“As far as I know, your father didn’t interact much with Pompey’s wife. You know how he prefers… um… modest women?”
“Sigh… That’s not very reassuring.”
Julia shook her head in dismay. Though she loved and respected her father, she wasn’t inclined to take his side on matters involving women.
Marcus remained silent, not wanting to escalate the conversation further. He wasn’t in a position to concern himself with Caesar’s personal issues.
The only fortunate aspect was that Pompey had been straightforward in his letter about disbanding his army. This allowed Marcus to anticipate how the situation might unfold.
‘Now that it has come to this, I need to adjust things to prevent deviations from the original history.’
Marcus had previously tried to align events with history during the Catiline conspiracy but had failed. He now faced the challenge of dealing with Pompey’s obstinacy.
The current Senate situation differed slightly from historical records. They were buoyant after successfully handling the Catiline conspiracy, which had caused a much bigger uproar than anticipated. They considered the loss in Pulcrus’ trial a minor setback.
If Pompey showed any weakness, the Senate would likely seize the opportunity to retaliate. They might use it as a chance to express their frustration at being ignored.
Such a scenario could derail Marcus’ plans. If Pompey was either crushed or chose to break with the Senate prematurely, it would pose serious problems.
‘In the end, it’s up to me to manage the fallout. I wonder if Pompey realizes how much effort I’m putting into this.’
People who cause problems rarely appreciate the efforts of those who resolve them.
With a weary sigh, Marcus headed to Crassus’ room to discuss the next steps.
※※※※
Pompey, accustomed to success, expected the same outcome this time. He was unaware of the trouble his overconfidence might cause.
True to his word, he disbanded his army immediately and then marched north along the Appian Way with only a few legionnaires and cavalry.
His return procession was as magnificent as his reputation. Revered as a great general and likened to Alexander in the East, Pompey was greeted with enthusiastic cheers from the citizens who flocked to catch a glimpse of him.
Feeling gratified by the fervent reception, Pompey deliberately slowed his pace. Surrounded by the adoring crowd, he finally arrived in Rome a month after the new year.
He remained outside the city walls and made his demands known:
“The Senate must acknowledge the achievements of Pompey Magnus and grant me the right to hold a triumph. They must also allow me to register as a candidate for the next consul election and approve the reorganization plan I have drafted for the eastern provinces, including land distribution for my soldiers.”
Even with a cold evaluation, Pompey’s demands were not excessive. Considering his achievements in the East, they were quite modest. Pompey was extending an olive branch to the Senate, but the Senate had no intention of meeting his demands.
Now that Pompey had disbanded his army, he was no longer a threat. Additionally, the Senate had garnered significant public support through a series of reform bills. They saw this as an ideal opportunity to subdue Pompey.
Hardliners like Cato openly advocated rejecting all of Pompey’s demands except the triumph. Some even suggested reducing the scale of the triumph.
“Pompey has enjoyed too many privileges so far. It wouldn’t hurt him to face some setbacks this time. His current struggle will only make him stronger in the future.”
“Hahaha, is Pompey made of iron? The more you hit him, the harder he gets.”
“Considering Pompey’s personality, he would be furious at this insult.”
“What can he do about it? He’s already disbanded his army.”
The senators' voices were filled with mockery. The meeting proceeded with the assumption that Pompey’s proposal would be rejected.
Marcus, observing from a corner of the meeting hall, clicked his tongue softly. Originally, he would have been able to participate in Senate meetings next year when his term as quaestor ended. However, due to Catiline’s rebellion, there were more vacancies than expected, allowing quaestors to enter the Senate a year earlier.
As a novice senator, Marcus had been listening quietly, but as the anti-Pompey sentiment grew stronger, he decided to speak up. He raised his hand cautiously and requested permission to address the Senate.
“Honorable senators, I know I am still inexperienced, but I would like to make a bold suggestion.”
“Oh, Marcus, you are now a senator too, so speak freely.”
Many senators, including Cicero, showed no discomfort with Marcus’ speech despite his youth, indicating his favor within the Senate. However, this support was more encouragement than a guarantee of loyalty. If Marcus made a mistake, the senators could easily turn against him.
Marcus continued with careful consideration.
“Everyone agrees that Pompey has received significant special treatment in the past. However, there was no one else capable of shouldering such heavy responsibilities at that time, and he deserves praise for the immense benefits he has brought to Rome.”
“That’s true, but Pompey has shown too much disrespect for the Senate. You wouldn’t understand because you weren’t in the Senate then.”
“Yes. Pompey should have been more considerate of the Senate. I also recognize that accepting all of Pompey’s demands now would mean losing any future opportunity to control him.”
Cicero agreed with Marcus and added, “Pompey will believe he can manipulate the Senate at will. I’m close to him, but for political balance, we must win this time.”
“Of course. That’s clear. But we shouldn’t disregard a hero who has done so much for Rome. If someone like Pompey, who has achieved great things, can’t even hold a proper triumph, it will set a bad precedent. Ignorant people who don’t understand the situation will see it as the Senate acting pettishly.”
“Do we need to heed the opinions of these ignorant people?”
“If the masses start making noise, public opinion might turn against us. While the Senate’s support is solid now, we must consider that Pompey has a large base of citizen support.”
“Even if it becomes a battle of public opinion, I don’t think we’ll lose. However, if Pompey holds a grand triumph, his popularity will rise, which could be disadvantageous for us.”
“I disagree. If Pompey, who has achieved so much, is denied a proper triumph, it will generate sympathy from the citizens. He will be seen as a war hero who was mistreated by the elite, which could easily garner public support.”
Some senators voiced agreement, finding Marcus’ argument compelling. Cato, visibly annoyed, sighed.
“So you’re suggesting we should at least grant him a triumph.”
“Yes. And we should make it as glorious as possible, unprecedented in history. The masses are obsessed with visible forms. As long as we give them the impression that the Senate recognizes Pompey’s achievements and honors him appropriately, we can delay the rest of the issues with excuses and avoid appearing spiteful.”
“That’s a good idea. If we want to completely crush Pompey, it will take time and effort. It’s more efficient to wear him down gradually. Plus, this approach won’t damage the Senate’s honor.”
Cato and Cicero both agreed to spare Pompey’s honor but made it clear they would not grant him any real power.
“The most important thing is to prevent Pompey from running for consul,” Cicero emphasized. “No matter how much he extends his demands, if he becomes consul, he will be able to handle it himself. So our first priority is to find a way to block his candidacy.”
With the direction clear, concrete plans began to take shape.
Caesar, sitting next to Marcus, snorted in frustration. He was scheduled to take office as governor of Hispania, but his creditors had tied him down. Thanks to Marcus, who had guaranteed him as the largest creditor, he would be able to leave for his post next month.
He leaned in and whispered to Marcus, “Do you think this wise group will ever prioritize the national interest over their personal rivalries?”
“We need to make them do so.”
“Well, I doubt they will change with any shock therapy. They’re busy discussing how to undermine a man who has worked hard for Rome’s glory.”
Caesar’s voice dripped with disgust. Marcus shared his sentiment.
Despite their feelings, the meeting proceeded smoothly. The Senate decided to grant only the first of Pompey’s requests: the triumph. They planned to make it the most splendid triumph in Roman history to show that the Senate respected Pompey. Meanwhile, they used the land distribution and provincial reorganization issues as excuses to delay these matters.
Caesar sighed loudly. “Humiliating Pompey is fine, but the provincial reorganization in the East is something we need to address. The longer we delay it, the more Rome loses.”
No one paid attention to Caesar’s concerns. The Senate was too busy praising their own scheme as a brilliant move. It was indeed a brilliant strategy for humiliating Pompey. Delaying the land distribution would make Pompey lose face with his subordinates, and postponing the provincial reorganization would erode his prestige in the conquered lands.
The next step was to prevent Pompey from running for consul. Lucullus proposed a clever idea. Having suffered humiliation from Pompey when he was dismissed as commander in the East, he was eager to tarnish Pompey’s reputation.
“As you all know, consul candidates must register before the summer election, and they must come to Capitoline Hill in person. Since Pompey cannot enter the city walls until his triumph, if we schedule his triumph after the consul election, Pompey won’t be able to run for consul at all.”
“Excellent idea,” someone agreed. “But what if he formally requests to run in absentia?”
Cicero responded with a smile, “Running in absentia is for candidates who cannot come to Rome. Pompey isn’t in Rome; he just can’t enter the city walls. It’s a legal loophole, but the Senate can refuse his request.”
“What if Pompey gives up his triumph to run for consul?”
“That’s unlikely. He wouldn’t give up the most splendid triumph in Roman history. Pompey believes he can be consul anytime if he waits a year. He’d prefer to have his triumph, even if it means waiting.”
The Senate knew they had to keep Pompey in check to maintain their oligarchy. Cicero, Cato, and other leaders did not see their actions as unfair oppression but as necessary for saving the country and protecting the future of the republic. Most senators genuinely believed this.
Eventually, Pompey’s triumph was scheduled for the day before the last day of September—his birthday.
This was also a clever excuse from the Senate.
Holding a triumph on his birthday was a tremendous honor for a Roman. The Senate argued that the great hero Pompey deserved such special treatment.
Caesar, observing the whole process, could only laugh with a hint of frustration.
“I’m glad I’ll be a provincial governor before that happens. But you, who have to stay in Rome, will have to deal with it.”
“At least I can breathe easier knowing the Senate didn’t push Pompey into a corner.”
“Don’t they realize that Pompey’s army is not only disbanded but still in Italy? Aren’t they worried that he might summon his troops and march on Rome if he chooses to? I can’t believe no one is concerned about that.”
“People tend to ignore potential threats once they have a fixed perception. They think Pompey is different from Sulla just because he disbanded his army. I don’t think Pompey would act like Sulla either—unless he feels his life is in danger. Sulla didn’t care about how others perceived him, so he could act ruthlessly. Pompey, on the other hand, is more cautious. That’s what makes him both humanly appealing and politically ineffective.”
Marcus nodded in agreement.
As they spoke, the Senate’s official statement to Pompey was passed with overwhelming approval.
Caesar frowned. “But Pompey still has one chance. He’ll speak at the rostra before his triumph. If he prepares well and rallies the people, he might reverse public opinion. Though, considering Pompey’s eloquence, the chance is less than 10 percent.”
“10 percent seems too high. Maybe 5 percent.”
“By the way, aren’t you close to Pompey? He might ask you for advice.”
Marcus chuckled. “Pompey? Do you really think so?”
“Of course… ah, no. Not for now. He ignored your advice, disbanded his army, and faced setbacks. He’ll try to solve it on his own. His pride won’t let him ask for help right away.”
“Yes. He’ll need to suffer a bit. I have my own headaches with the provincial issue in the East, but there are solutions. Pompey should face his challenges as well. It’s only fair.”
“Hahaha, yes. I’ll assume you have no intention of reaching out to Pompey for a while.”
Marcus looked southward, toward where Pompey would be, beyond the Servian Wall.
“I don’t need to contact him first. When the time comes, he’ll come to me.”
Marcus left the Senate house, whistling softly as he looked up at the sky. The peaceful sound of his whistle, incongruous with the current situation, drifted up and mingled with the clouds.