WI Pompey seizes power in 67 BC?

Pompey enjoyed huge popularity amongst the Plebeians of Rome, but the Roman Senate was wary of him and his growing power. The Senate were reluctant to give massive powers to any one man, fearing it would allow another Dictator to seize power as Sulla had done just fifteen years before. The Tribunes though, were able to pass a law conferring huge powers on Pompey to deal with the pirates in Mediterranean Sea. The law was proposed by the Tribune Gabinius and therefore was named the Lex Gabinia.
Because most Roman territory was within the 50-mile limit around the Mediterranean, the law gave Pompey, who was then just 39, power over almost every province. This kind of power could easily be exploited, and in fact led to the legions being loyal to him personally, strengthening his position in the state.
WI Pompey took advantage of Lex Gabinia and seized power in Rome?

How is this altering History? Any thoughts?
 

wormyguy

Banned
Pompey couldn't have just taken advantage of a legal technicality and declared himself de facto dictator. He would have needed an army at his back for that.

Who is going to have more legitimacy in this situation?

The Senate, the representatives of the Roman people for 500 years, chosen by the Roman people.

Pompey, who claims that he's ruler of most of the empire due to a legal technicality in a law that gave him the power to combat piracy.

I think the answer is fairly clear. If, however, Pompey had seized power at one point, the future of Rome would probably be one of continuous civil war, with various military strongmen attempting to seize power and become dictator, until the eventual fall of Rome, much sooner in this case.
 
Lex Gabinia gave Pompey proconsular powers in any province within 50 miles of the Mediterranean with a fleet of 500 warships, 120,000 infantry and around 5,000 cavalry to fight the growing problems of pirates disrupting trade in the Mediterranean sea.
With Lex Gabinia Pompey had the legal power (sort of...) and the army to declare himself Dictator...
 
To seize power Pompey would have had to overcome his own reluctance. Though Pompey wanted supreme power, he wanted to achieve it as the Senate's servant-a true dilemma for him. The Lex Gambinia gave Pompey immense power, and the precedent had been set by Sulla; Pompey could have taken this power and run with it, but that would have gone against his own inclinations. He would much rather have been granted total power by the Senate and thus ruled by their favor.
 
So instead of throwing in with the Optimates, novus homini Pompey stays the biggest thing among the Plurares, outshining Caesar?
 
So instead of throwing in with the Optimates, novus homini Pompey stays the biggest thing among the Plurares, outshining Caesar?

Well, he remained true to the Senate till the end.

This question of Pompey seizing power is a good one. Perhaps someone with the inclination can run with the scenario tossed out by Don_Giorgio. My initial thought is that Pompey would be tangling with both Caesar and Crassus-that these would rise up through circumstance just as they did-and be used by the Senate to oppose Pompey.

Thoughts?
 
Well, he remained true to the Senate till the end.

This question of Pompey seizing power is a good one. Perhaps someone with the inclination can run with the scenario tossed out by Don_Giorgio. My initial thought is that Pompey would be tangling with both Caesar and Crassus-that these would rise up through circumstance just as they did-and be used by the Senate to oppose Pompey.

Thoughts?

Maybe in a battle of thoughts Pompey decides to make his bid for power... Would Julius Caesar who was thinking the same thing joins Pompey or he becomes a champion of the Senate? Would the Populares party back Caesar if he allied himself with the Senate?
 
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