The Rise and Fall of the 1 st Triumvirate (60 BC- 44 BC) Triumvirate = “three men” The First Triumvirate began with the slave revolt of Spartacus in the late 70s BC. A wealthy and influential general/politician, Marcus Crassus put down the revolt with his young friend, Gnaeus Pompey. Both of these men were of the Optimates party.

Crassus Pompey

In 59 BC, an ambitious member of the Populares party, Julius Caesar, was commanded to conquer warring tribes in Gaul (France). Over the next ten years, he became powerful and wealthy from his conquests. Caesar, Crassus and Pompey formed a three-man alliance that essentially ran the Republic. Crassus was killed in 52 BC, and Pompey became fearful of Caesar’s popularity and power.

In 49 BC, Caesar was denied the office of consul because Pompey and his followers in the Senate feared Caesar. Caesar led his army into Italy and drove Pompey across the sea. He caught up with Pompey at Pharsalus, in Greece, and defeated his army in 48 BC. Pompey fled to Egypt, where allies of Caesar murdered him and cut off his head.

For the next 4 years, Caesar ruled as dictator in Rome. He was a very good leader, but many senators still feared his power. On March 15, 44 BC, Caesar was assassinated, ironically in the theater that Pompey had built 12 years earlier.

The Theater of Pompey (now underground) Bon Appetit!