How about if, on arriving in Egypt, Pompey is not killed. In OTL, Ceasar was , or at least pretended to be pissed off. Would Ceasar welcome a prodigal Pompey back into the fold?
It was my understanding that Caesar wanted to pardon and make up with Pompey.Caesar would be in trouble : he can't totally pardon Pompey that was his most important opponent (not much by himself, but mainly because he was before the Civil War the most prestigious general and politic with Caesar).
Going back in Rome with him? He couldn't indefinitly jail him (he would have meant his death), making him judged (too much risks it would end at Caesar desadvantage even partially)...
In inner exile? Better way to see a court of opponent forming outside direct Caesar's reach.
I think the most probable is to let Pompey live in exile in Egypt or another client state, being still watched by Caesar's men.
Pompey would be possibly forgotten more and more, and if he tried (or others tried for him) to create another opposing force based on his name, an "unfortunate accident" likely said to be the client king's responsability would occur...
I don't think Caesar would have let him the choice regarding this, except maybe allowing him to suicide.I think you're missing one point : Pompey did not want to live as an exile or thanks to Caesar's mercy/clementia.
Caesar is the main responsible for having this ideas widespread : while it could represent an historical reality, we have to be careful to see at which point Pompey was effectivly burnt. The survivance of Pompeists after his death would tend to show that his name kept a part of political prestige and credibility.This man had been ridiculed by Caesar during the years 49 and 48 who succeeded in repeatdely defeating the "great" man and his allies with far fewer ressources.
According to Caesar at least : you can only give him so much credibility and antique historians were more dubious.It was my understanding that Caesar wanted to pardon and make up with Pompey.
According to Caesar at least : you can only give him so much credibility and antique historians were more dubious.
Now, he couldn't have being harsh or bloody on Pompey if he wanted to not give argument to his opponents in Rome and to end the Civil War. Not exactly the same than pardon and make buddy-buddy
To resume : we're in the shadow of Caesar's propaganda. While it is based on an historical reality, he certainly want to show us what he wanted or believed, not the absolute and objective truthness.
True everything Ceasar said or wrote has to be looked at with a grain of salt, but he did pardon many of his former enemies, Brutus and Cassius for instance. So it certainly possible that Caesar would pardon Pompey. Though then again he did drive several of his enemies to suicide so it could go either way. Though I think that, if anything, Pompey would either be held in a sort of house arrest or be compelled to commit suicide.
Assuming Caesar would still be assassinated...
Anyway, I think pardoning and working with Pompey would be a huge help to him ending the civil war quickly. The war didn't end with Pompey's death, and he still had to campaign in North Africa, and twice in Spain. And even then, Pompey's son Sextus was still conducting a guerilla campaign in Spain while he was still alive.
Reconciling with Pompey might convince the other senators to come to grips and not resist militarily. It would look like to them that Caesar actually was not going to destroy the republic, and with Pompey abandoning them, they might realize continuing the war would be a definitely losing effort. Maybe the likes of someone as talented asLabienus abandoning the war would convince them that ending hostilities would be the best outcome.
To Russian : to my opinion, going to Egypt was an absolutely necessary step for Pompey at this time, whatever we may think with hindsight. He needed to try to save what could be saved in his provincial ressources : Egypt was the richest area of the Mediterranean world.
I do not see anything necessary in Pompey's going to Egypt. In my opinion he did it out of despair, his mind was not clear after losing a crucial battle. What did he hope for? He thought that Egypt would help the Roman loser against the Roman winner (Caesar), didn't he? He got lucky being killed. Pompey might be taken prisoner by the Egyptians and brought to Caesar in chains.