What if Pompey had remained allied with Ceasar?

Hey, I was just wondering what you thought; what would happen if Pompey Had remain allied with Ceasar and had a child With Julia, a close relation of Ceasar (either sister or daughter, can't rember which) and say Cato rather than Pompey is the one the commands the other side of the civil war? Rather than people thinking that Ceasar will be King, Pompey and Ceasar become Consuls for life?
 
I dont know: I always thought Caesar was to ambitious to end up shairing power:confused:

Cesar was ambitious but could have accepted Pompey's alliance. After all, he didn't wanted of a civil war if he could avoided it.

Now, Pompey would have likely not remained allied with Caesar.

All the triumvirate thing was an alliance of circumstance, and Pompey was powerful because he was the leader of the aristocratic faction.

Populares and Optimates were too different to ever agree on the long term. If it can help, think of Democrat and Republicans (in the case of an USA where these parties are armed and commit political murders as an usual way of expression) making a double-ticket for the presidency.

Of course Pompey can say "fuck it" and not care of it. But he would sever himself for the source of its political power and will became useless for Caesar as an ally.

As a puppet to play against the unavoidable optimate rebel general that would rise on the other hand...
 
Cesar was ambitious but could have accepted Pompey's alliance. After all, he didn't wanted of a civil war if he could avoided it.

Now, Pompey would have likely not remained allied with Caesar.

All the triumvirate thing was an alliance of circumstance, and Pompey was powerful because he was the leader of the aristocratic faction.

Populares and Optimates were too different to ever agree on the long term. If it can help, think of Democrat and Republicans (in the case of an USA where these parties are armed and commit political murders as an usual way of expression) making a double-ticket for the presidency.

Of course Pompey can say "fuck it" and not care of it. But he would sever himself for the source of its political power and will became useless for Caesar as an ally.

As a puppet to play against the unavoidable optimate rebel general that would rise on the other hand...
I have to disagree the triumvirate was an alliance of three of the most powerful men realizing that individually they were powerful bbut together they could basiaclly do whatever they wanted as along as techincally speaking they were not breaking the law. And Pomepy wasn't the same kind of politician and from Ceasar's view while he was in Gaul, Pompey's Job was to make sure that He recalled. as well Pompey would be able to help militarily if nothing else, becasue between the two of them they had legions in the entire west of the empire loyal to them and Pompey was an influenceal figure in the east were most of the financing of the Optimates war against Ceasar came from
 
Pompey was married with Julia daughter and only child of Caesar and was madly in love with her. If Julia do not die and also her son live (and maybe Julia and Pompey have other children) is very difficult who the alliance between Pompey (who was thew most popular and glorious general of Rome but not the leader of the Optimates, who also OTL really dislike him but need him to lead them against Caesar) and Caesar will be broken (and most likely ITTL Caesar adopted son and heir will be the first son of Julia and Pompey (his own grandson) and not Octavius who was only his great nephew)
 
My guess is that both men would eventually clwsh... Caesar's ambitions were just too big and Pompey's views of the Republic would be an obstacle to Caesar's plans...
 
Clearly the first step for Pompey and Ceasar staying allied is Julia not dying in 54. Pompey adored Julia. Pompey also appreciated how Julia's ancient bloodline brought credibility to his provincial Picentum background. Ceasar also adored his daughter Julia. So both powers have incentive to play nice.

Julia birthing a son who lives also goes a long way to helping too. As a previous poster pointed out that such a child would be Ceasar's heir. This gives Ceasar incentive to play nice with Pompey. Pompey already had 2 or 3 sons, so while still an incentive for him, probably not as much as it does for Ceasar.

I don't think anyone has mentioned the importance of Crassus staying alive. Its still a triumvirate at this point as he didn't die till 53. Crassus is regarded as the richest man in Rome.

If Crassus survives his campaign against the Parthians to return to Rome, no matter Pompey's personal dislike of Crassus and jealousy of Ceasar's victories in Gaul, I think his calculation of where power is in Rome would keep him in the triumvirate and he doesn't jump ship to the Optimates.

Now if Crassus not only survives but returns to Rome with solid victories against the Parthians, Pompey's calculations swing hard to staying with the Triumvirate. I'd imagine large successes in the East would make Crassus even outshine Ceasar's wins against those measly barbarians in Gaul.


A Pompey that stays aligned with Ceasar will be extremely jealous of Ceasar's success, and even more so of Crassus if Crassus survives. He will want a campaign of his own.

If Crassus dies, would Pompey go East to avenge Crassus (even though he hated him)? Crassus was Ceasar's friend and historically Ceasar was about to campaign against them when he was assasinated IOTL. Its close, but I think Ceasar would let Pompey go against the Parthians. It gets Pompey out of Rome and surely Ceasar would come back to run Rome as Consul while Pompey is gone. Ceasar would likely calculate the odds as pretty good that Pompey could also die out in the East, leaving Ceasar as undisputed First Man of Rome. Then he gets his campaign of revenge against the Parthians.

If Crassus doesn't die, Pompey will even more demand a campaign to restablish his bona fides as THE war maker of Rome. Would Ceasar and Crassus allow Pompey to manufacture and lead a war against Egypt? Egypt is the BIG prize to Rome. Not yet conquered by Rome because no significant Roman wants any other Roman to get the credit and wealth for having conquered it. Are there any other places Pompey could make war against that might satisfy his ego? Maybe Dacia is the only possibility I can think of? Or if Crassus didn't fully defeat the Parthians, then he goes there (much like he took over from Lucullus against Mithridates)
 
Okay I guess I didn't explain what I was thinking of, Pompey and Ceasar Get along like best friends, how does this change history.
 
Top