Gnaeus Pompey the Younger

Gnaeus Pompeius the Younger continued his father's war against Caesar and was hunted down in Spain. Born around 75 BC, he was the elder son of Pompey the Great, and commanded an Egyptian squadron for his father in the campaign that ended at Pharsalus in 48 BC. After Pompey was murdered in Egypt, the surviving optimates regrouped in Africa. Gnaeus fought there and escaped when Caesar destroyed them at Thapsus in 46 BC and Cato killed himself at Utica. He went to Spain with his younger brother Sextus and Titus Labienus, Caesar's ablest former legate. Spain was fertile ground. Caesar's governors had extorted from the province, and the Pompey name still carried the loyalty his father had built there in the 70s BC. Gnaeus raised thirteen legions, though many were local levies and slaves rather than veterans, and took most of the peninsula. Caesar came in person in late 46 BC, moving with his usual speed, and the two armies manoeuvred through the winter. They met at Munda in southern Spain on 17 March 45 BC. It was the hardest battle Caesar fought; he said afterwards that he had often fought for victory but that day had fought for his life, and he dismounted and went into the front line himself when his men wavered. About thirty thousand Pompeians were killed, including Labienus. Gnaeus fled wounded, was run down some weeks later, and was killed; his head was displayed at Hispalis. Sextus escaped, took to the sea, and troubled Octavian for a decade.

• Lived: 75 BCE – 45 BCE
• Nationality: Roman
• Roles: general