Scipio

Family: Pompeian · Role: senator · First appears: The Civil War, Book I, 1–6

In Book I of the Civil War, Scipio was assigned Syria and urged the Senate to require Caesar to disband his army. He was a friend of Pompey, hoping to share a province and armies with him. In Book III, Pompey expected two legions from Syria with Scipio.

During the events in Syria, Scipio assumed the title of imperator after losses near Mount Amanus. His exactions doubled the province’s debt over two years; at Pergamus, he moved his legions into winter quarters and allowed them to plunder cities. At Pompey’s request, he abandoned preparations to seize the temple money at Ephesus and set out for Macedonia.

Later in Book III, Scipio turned from pursuing Lucius Cassius Longinus to relieve Marcus Favonius, after hearing that Cneius Domitius Calvinus was marching against him. His horsemen ambushed Quintus Varus’s cavalry, killing about eighty and putting the rest to flight. At Gomphi, Androsthenes summoned Scipio and Pompey for aid; when Pompey arrived in Thessaly, he united their forces and shared his honours with Scipio. Scipio also quarrelled with Lucius Domitius and Lentulus Spinther over Caesar’s priesthood.