Pompey the Great : The Roman Alexander

"This sympathetic biography offers a smooth read through his ambitious life, complete with analysis of his political decisions."-Historical Miniatures Gaming SocietyPompeycareer in command began at a young age, taking control of his deceased fatherlegions in support of Sulla during the civil war with Marius. A precocious and ambitious talent, he held repeated commands before he was the legal age. Sulla called him the teenage butcher . He served in the Sertorian War in Spain (recovering from an early defeat), helped crush Spartacusrevolt then freed the Eastern Mediterranean from the depradations of Cilician pirates in a matter of weeks. He brought a victorious end to the long-running Third Mithridatic War and brought the whole of Asia Minor, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Judea under Roman influence by a mix of force and diplomacy. For good reason he was hailed even in his own lifetime as the Roman Alexanderand Lee Fratantuono gives these events the detailed coverage they deserve.All this came before the events

for which he is usually remembered: his great civil war against Julius Caesar. There is detailed analysis of the opening moves in Italy, Pompeyvictory over Caesar at Dyrrhachium and the climactic battle at Pharsalus in September 48 BC. Pompey was defeated, fled ignominiously and was assassinated, leaving his two sons to carry on the war. [Publisher's Text]