Roman Emperor - Sextus Pompey 42-40BC

Sextus Pompey 42-40 BC

Sextus Pompey, the younger son of Pompey the Great, inherited his father's vast influence and personal following. He first established himself in Spain in 44 BC as the successful leader of the anti-Caesarian forces. Following the death of Caesar, the Senate, believing itself freed from the domination of the Caesarians, bestowed on Sextus the title of praefectus classis et orae maritimae (Commander-in-Chief of the Fleet and of the Sea Coasts). Four months later, however, the Senate was forced by Octavian and the second triumvirate to rescind this title and Sextus was proscribed. Upon receiving word of the Senate's abrogation of his commission and receiving reports of the revenge the Caesarians were exacting on the leading figures in Rome, Sextus set sail from Massalia in Gaul and headed for Sicily. Here he established a powerful base from which he could blockade Italy and provide a safe haven for those fleeing the proscriptions. Alarmed at these developements, Octavian sent a naval squadron under the command of Salvidienus Rufus to handle the situation, but Salvidienus was defeated off the coast of Rhegium. Following this battle, Sextus took the title of imperator iterum. Sextus continued the republican struggle against the second triumvirate until his death in 36 BC