Pompey, Cato, and the governance of the Roman Empire

Provincial governance under the Roman republic has long been notorious for its corrupt officials and greedy tax-farmers, though this is far from being the whole story. This book challenges the traditional picture, contending that leading late republican citizens were more concerned about the problems of their empire than is generally recognized, and took effective steps to address them. Attempts to improve provincial governance over the period 70-50 BC are examined in depth, with a particular focus on the contributions of Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (Pompey) and the younger Marcus Porcius Cato. These efforts ranged well beyond the sanctions of the extortion law, encompassing show trials and model governors, and drawing on principles of moral philosophy. In 52-50 BC they culminated in a coordinated reform programme which combined far-sighted administrative change with a concerted attempt to transform the ethos of provincial governance: the union of what Cicero called 'Cato's policy' of ethical governance with Pompey's lex de provinciis, a law which transformed the very nature of provincial command. Though more familiar as political opponents, Pompey and Cato were united in their interest in good governance and were capable of working alongside each other to effect positive change. This book demonstrates that it was their eventual collaboration, in the late 50s BC, that produced the republic's most significant programme of provincial reform. In the process, it offers a new perspective on these two key figures as well as an enriched understanding of provincial governance in the late Roman republic. - Publisher Cover 1 Pompey, Cato, and the Governance of the Roman Empire 4 Copyright 5 Preface 6 Contents 8 List of abbreviations 9 Note on the texts 10 Introduction 12 Pompey, Cato, and provincial reform 13 What was Good Government? 16 Philosophy and Roman imperialism 19 Provincial Reform Before 70 21 Sources and Scholarship 26 Overview 29 1: Pompey and the reforms of 70 33 Pompey ́s programme 33 Pompey, Cicero, and the prosecution of Verres 35 The Verrines and the courts 40 Verres ́ trial and judicial reform 47 The censorship 51 Verres ́ show trial 55 Exempla in the Verrines 60 Pompey ́s refusal of a province 63 Pompey ́s programme and the tribunes of 67 65 2: Pompey in the east 68 Pro Lege Manilia 68 The pirate war 72 The settlement of the pirates 74 The Mithridatic war 76 Pompey ́s virtues 81 Pompey ́s triumph 83 Profits of empire 88 Pompey and the publicani 90 Pompey ́s personal profits 93 Pompey and philosophy 95 Pompey ́s patria 106 Conclusions 107 3: Cato, Stoicism, and the provinces 109 Stoicism and just empire 109 Cato the practising Stoic 111 Cato in his own words 117 Distinctively Stoic elements 124 Cato in Cyprus 127 The Cyprus mission as exemplum 133 Cato ́s friends, Ptolemy, and corruption 136 Conclusions 139 4: The last lex repetundarum 140 The development of the lex repetundarum 140 The lex Julia de pecuniis repetundis 144 The lex Julia and maiestas 146 Capital penalties 149 A perfect law? 150 The political and policy context of the lex Julia 151 Pompey and the trials of 59 153 Cato and the lex Julia 159 Conclusions 162 5: The equites and the extortion law 164 The trial of Rabirius Postumus 174 The date of Pompey ́s relatio 174 The date of Rabirius ́ trial 176 Cato and the trial of Rabirius Postumus 182 Conclusions 187 6: Metus Parthicus 188 Disowning Crassus ́ campaign 189 Pompey and Parthia 192 C. Cassius in Syria 194 The Parthian threat, 51-50 198 Bibulus in Syria 205 Bibulus ́ supplicatio 208 The senatus consultum de provinciis of 53 211 7: The lex Pompeia de provinciis 215 Pompey and Cato in 52 215 Pompey, Cato, and the politics of Milo ́s trial 216 Cato ́s consular campaign 220 Pompey ́s legislation 221 The lex Pompeia de provinciis 225 The interval under the law 230 The senate ́s control over provincial appointments 234 The duration of commands 238 Sortition 240 The appointments for 51 245 8: Cato ́s policy 248 Cato ́s policy in practice, 51-50 249 Cicero in Cilicia 249 Bibulus in Syria 254 Thermus in Asia 255 The other governors 260 Setting an example 261 Stoic maiestas and true glory 263 The utilitas of glory 272 Conclusions 278 Conclusion 280 Bibliography 288 Index of quoted passages 308 General index 312 This book examines attempts to improve provincial governance from 70–50, particularly the contributions of Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus and the younger Marcus Porcius Cato. It contends that Romans of the late republic were more concerned about the problems of their empire than is generally recognized, and were taking steps to address them. These efforts ranged well beyond the sanctions of the extortion law to encompass show trials, exemplary governance, and ideas drawn from moral philosophy, culminating in 52–50 in a reform programme which combined what Cicero called ‘Cato’s policy’ of ethical governance with Pompey’s __lex de provinciis__, a law which transformed the very nature of provincial command. The book also demonstrates that Pompey and Cato, two figures usually seen as combatants, were capable of collaborating in the cause of reform. The opening chapters examine Pompey’s engagement with problems of imperial governance in his first consulship and in his eastern campaigns, and Cato’s Stoic view of empire. Next, attention turns to the extortion law passed by Julius Caesar in 59 and subsequent attempts by Pompey and Cato to extend its penalties to equestrian officials. The final chapters detail the aims, context, legislative framework, and implementation of the reform programme pursued by Pompey, Cato, and others in 52–50, from the catalyzing effect of Marcus Crassus’ defeat in Parthia to Cato and Cicero’s efforts to promote a new ethos of provincial governance. This programme was cut short by civil war, but provided an important model for Augustus’ reforms. Machine Generated Contents Note: 1. Pompey And The Reforms Of 70 -- 2. Pompey In The East -- 3. Cato, Stoicism, And The Provinces -- 4. The Last Lex Repetundarum -- 5. The Equites And The Extortion Law -- 6. Metus Parthicus -- 7. The Lex Pompeia De Provinciis -- 8. Cato's Policy. Kit Morrell. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 277-296) And Indexes. Leading Romans in the late republic were more concerned about the problems of their empire than is generally recognized. This book challenges the traditional picture by exploring the attempts made at legal and ethical reform in the period 70-50 BC, while also shedding new light on collaboration between Pompey and Cato, two key arbiters of change.