Sextus Pompeius

Sextus Pompeius , d. 35 BC, Roman commander; one of the sons of Pompey the Great. He fought for his father at Pharsalus, then went to Egypt and, after the battle of Thapsus, to Spain, where he continued warring against Caesar's followers after the death of his elder brother in 45 BC In 44 BC, Lepidus (d. 13 BC) made a settlement with Sextus, and he was given command of a Roman fleet in 43 BC Later outlawed by the Romans, he seized Sicily and prevented grain ships from reaching Rome. He supported Antony, but in 40 BC came to a settlement with Octavian (later Augustus). Two years later Octavian accused Sextus of breaking their agreement and attacked him. Sextus defeated Octavian in 38 BC and again in 36 BC Later that year Sextus was crushed at Mylae and then at Naulochus. He fled to Asia Minor, where he was captured and killed.

Bibliography: See biography by M. Hadas (1930).