Pompeius, Sextus

Pompeius, Sextus (sek'stus pompā'us) [key], d. 35 B.C., 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 B.C. In 44 B.C., Lepidus (d. 13 B.C.) made a settlement with Sextus, and he was given command of a Roman fleet in 43 B.C. Later outlawed by the Romans, he seized Sicily and prevented grain ships from reaching Rome. He supported Antony, but in 40 B.C. 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 B.C. and again in 36 B.C. Later that year Sextus was crushed at Mylae and then at Naulochus. He fled to Asia Minor, where he was captured and killed.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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