
Magnus Pius
Sextus Pompeius and the Transformation of the Roman Republic
Kathryn Welch(Author)
Classical Press of Wales
Published on 12. December 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
364 pages
978-1-914535-39-0 (ISBN)
Description
Sextus Pompeius Magnus Pius, son of Pompey the Great, fits uneasily - or not at all - into the grand narrative of the civil war of 49-31 BC. Modern scholars tend to exclude him or mention him without asking what or whom he represented. Ronald Syme, the father of international orthodoxy in this field, famously remarked that Sextus was 'in reality an adventurer' who was 'easily represented as a pirate'. He was wrong. Sextus Pompeius plays havoc with key elements of the accepted narrative. His military success destroys the myth of continuous Caesarian victory. His commitment to rescuing the victims of Triumviral violence belies claims that only the Caesarian side represented clementia and justice. The naval strategy by which he conducted the war demonstrates his commitment to the same cause and ethics as his father and his father's allies. Welch argues that, far from being a 'side-show' or a 'bit player', Sextus Pompeius was integral to the fight for the respublica. She solves the 'problem' by placing him at the centre of the story of Rome's transition from Republic to Empire and so reveals a very different landscape that emerges as a result.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Swansea
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
660 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-914535-39-0 (9781914535390)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification