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Quintus Pompeius was the name of various Romans from thegensPompeia, who were ofplebeian status. They lived during theRoman Republic andRoman Empire.
Quintus Pompeius A. f. (flourished 2nd century BC) was the son of an Aulus Pompeius. Little is known of his early life and political career.
The Roman Senator and HistorianCicero states that Pompeius first came to notice for his distinctive oratory. He was consul in 141 BC, during which, he was sent toHispania as the successor ofQuintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus in command of theNumantine War. Although he defeatedTanginus, after several defeats he and his troops were kept encamped before the walls of the town during the winter. With many soldiers dying from the weather and illness, Pompeius feared that theRoman Senate would summon him toRome to answer to them for his conduct of the war. So Pompeius decided to make peace with the Numantines.
Pompeius publicly demanded that the Numantines surrender; however, privately, he only demanded the return of the hostages and payment of thirtytalents. The Numantines, at first, were wary of this arrangement; however, they eventually agreed to Pompeius' terms.
In 139 BC,Marcus Popillius Laenas arrived inHispania to assume command from Pompeius, and discovered Pompeius’ misconduct. Laenas then lodged a complaint against Pompeius in the Roman Senate. Pompeius continued with his lie during his hearing, but the senate voided his treaty with the Numantines and the war was renewed. Pompeius escaped punishment and was fortunate enough to obtain an acquittal when he was accused of extortion from the province he was governing in.
Pompeius was still popular among the RomanPlebs and was among the first plebeians, along with Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus, to be elected ascensors. Pompeius’ wife was an unnamed Roman woman. His son was called Quintus Pompeius, an opponent of politicianTiberius Gracchus, and a daughter, Pompeia, who married a certain Gaius Sicinius.
Quintus Pompeius (flourished 2nd century BC), was the son to the above. In 133 BC, he was an opponent to politicianTiberius Gracchus.
Pompeius stated that he lived near Gracchus and knew a certain wealthy Greek, Eudemus fromPergamon, who gave Gracchus a purple robe and royal treasures including adiadem. Eudemus also promised Gracchus more treasures, when histribuneship had expired. Pompeius was elected tribune of the plebs in 132 BC and opposed Gracchus’ land reforms. Pompeius married an unnamed Roman woman and had two sons: Quintus Pompeius Rufus, consul of 88 BC and tribuneAulus Pompeius.
Note: This Quintus Pompeius above, consul in 141 and censor in 131, may have been the opponent of Gracchus.[1]
Quintus Pompeius Rufus (flourished 2nd and 1st century BC, died 88 BC), was the son to the above and eldest brother to tribuneAulus Pompeius. He appears to be the first in his family to bear thecognomen Rufus. However, the origins of him gaining this cognomen are unknown - although it may simply be that he was red-haired.
Cicero states that Pompeius was among the orators he had heard in his youth. Pompeius was a supporter of the DictatorLucius Cornelius Sulla. In 100 BC Pompeius was tribune of theplebs; waspraetor in 91 BC and served his consulship with Sulla in 88 BC. When the civil war broke out between Sulla andGaius Marius, Pompeius was deprived of his consulship and fled toNola, where Pompeius met up with Sulla and his army. Sulla took the place in the war against Mithridates and left Pompeius in charge ofItaly.
WhileGnaeus Pompeius Strabo was commanding the war against theMarsi tribe, the Optimates gave his army to Pompeius Rufus, the new consul. This caused Pompeius Rufus to be murdered by Strabo's soldiers.
Pompeius had married an unnamed Roman woman and they had a son a younger Quintus Pompeius Rufus, who married Sulla's first daughterCornelia Sulla.
Quintus Pompeius Rufus (flourished 2nd and 1st century BC, died 88 BC), was the son to the above. This Pompeius marriedCornelia Sulla, the first daughter of dictatorLucius Cornelius Sulla. Cornelia and Pompeius had two children a son Quintus Pompeius Rufus and a daughterPompeia, who married the future dictator GaiusJulius Caesar as his second wife. This Pompeius was murdered in theRoman Forum in 88 BC, by the supporters of politicianGaius Marius.
Quintus Pompeius Bithynicus (108 BC-48 BC), was the son of the tribuneAulus Pompeius. He is the first member of the family to bear thecognomen Bithynicus. However, the origins of him gaining this cognomen are unknown.
Pompeius was a friend to Cicero, with whom he studied. Cicero considered this Pompeius as a great learner, who was an average orator. When the civil war broke out betweenPompey andJulius Caesar, Pompeius supported Pompey. After the battle atPharsaliaGreece, he fled with Pompey, along with Pompey's remaining supporters inEgypt. On their arrival to Egypt, they were killed on the orders ofGreekPharaoh of EgyptPtolemy XIII Theos Philopator. Pompeius married an unnamed woman and they had a sonAulus Pompeius Bithynicus.
Quintus Pompeius Rufus (flourished 1st century BC) was the son of Quintus Pompeius Rufus, who was murdered in 88 BC, andCornelia Sulla. His maternal grandparents were the dictatorLucius Cornelius Sulla and his first wife Ilia (or Julia). His paternal grandfather was the consul of 88 BC, Quintus Pompeius Rufus, while his paternal grandmother is unknown.
In 54 BC, he was accused byMarcus Valerius Messalla Rufus of bribing voters to gain the consulship. He wastribune of the plebs in 52 BC and was a supporter of triumvirPompey.
Marcus Caelius Rufus accused Pompeius of violating laws of theRoman Senate which he had taken an active role in passing. He was condemned and was exiled toCampania. Also Caelius accused Pompeius of forcing his mother to give him the property that belonged to his father. The last instance in which the sources mention Pompeius is that in 51 BC the enemies of Pompeius spread false rumours that Pompeius murderedCicero on his way toCilicia.
Quintus Pompeius Rufus (flourished 1st century BC) was apraetor in 63 BC. It is unknown how this Pompeius was related to the above named. In 63 BC he garrisonedCapua against supporters ofCatiline during hiseponymous conspiracy.
Pompeius was the governor of theAfrican Province in 61 BC, where he obtained the title ofProconsul andCicero states he governed with integrity. In 56 BC, he bore witness toMarcus Caelius Rufus, who was in Africa at that time.