MagicMarker

How did Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (Pompey the Great) undermine the Constitution of the Roman Republic? What "illegal" things did he do?

Purpose: I'm trying to expose the cracks within the Republican system with respect to Pompey.

I know he undermined the constitution by:
- Assuming Consulship without previously holding a position in any office
- Receiving "triumphs"
- Through "First Triumvirate" with Caesar and Crassus
- Governed his Province of Spain through Legates

I would just like some help understanding the fourth point - "Governed his Province of Spain through Legates".
- Why did he do this?
- What did he achieve by doing this?
- How did he do this?

I'm having a lot of trouble finding information on this. Any references would be appreciated.
Every book that I pick up on this topic doesn't give me sufficient information regarding Pompey's governance of Spain (during his 2nd consulship). All they do is just tell me that it happened without actually going in depth.

Thank you.

pixi666

This looks like homework help to me, and should therefore go in the 'Homework Help' sub-forum.

Caracalla

You're forgeting that he brought an army before he was even legally allowed to command one and he used it to win victories for Sulla. That would appear to be a major crack in the Republic.

About his command in Spain, I too can't find anything about it other than it lasted for five years and he ruled through his legates. I assume Spain was moderatly safe territory and nothing of any significance happened.

okamido

He probably governed through his legates so that he could personally stay in the power center, Rome. He most likely learned through watching Marius and Sulla, that every time you leave to take on some external happenstance, your enemies swoop in. I am sure that it was simply a political expediency.

...and oh yah, mover to Homework Help.

Indy11

He stayed in Rome while being the governor of the Spanish provinces. Perhaps, being closer to the center of power was a more significant advantage for him than being in Spain? And he would have been familiar with the land anyway having gone there before with an army to try to put an end to Sertorius.

Perhaps by being able to govern Spain through his legates it meant that he had an army that he wasn't supposed to have or maybe not so large a one?

Rome actively exploited what we now call the Rio Tinto mines in Spain. It probably provided a good supply of coin for Pompey.

MagicMarker

Thanks for all of your replies guys. They've been really helpful.

Isoroku295

where was Salah in all this?

MagicMarker

Did you mean "Sulla"? Yes he was an important figure during this time. But, my focus was primarily on Pompey.

pixi666

Lol, Isoroku was referring to our resident Lord of the Romanophiles, Salah ad-Din.