On the social base of Sextus Pompey's Sicilian state: The origins of Cilician piracy and its first encounters with Rome

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This article focuses on the social foundation of Sextus Pompey's Sicilian state and the role of Cilician piracy in Rome's history. Particular attention is given to the origins of Cilician piracy in the 3rd–2nd centuries BC and its initial encounters with the Roman Republic. Piracy in the Mediterranean significantly influenced the political processes during Rome's civil wars. The research is based on a systematic analysis of ancient literary sources, including Appian, Plutarch, Polybius, and Strabo, alongside archaeological data and epigraphic studies. These sources provide a comprehensive understanding of piracy and its significance in Eastern Mediterranean politics. Critical analysis of historical texts is employed to reconstruct military-political events involving Cilician pirates. The article demonstrates that Cilician pirates were not merely bandits but key participants in regional politics. It examines the campaign of Marcus Antonius Orator in 102–101 BC, the first major Roman effort to suppress Cilician piracy. Piracy weakened Seleucid power and contributed to the creation of the Roman province of Asia. The interactions of pirates with eastern monarchs, such as Antiochus III and Mithridates VI, who actively utilized their services in military campaigns, are also explored. Rome's attitude towards pirates shifted from utilizing their services to open confrontation. Despite Marcus Antonius' campaign, piracy persisted until Gnaeus Pompeius finally eradicated it in 67 BC. The struggle against Cilician piracy was a significant milestone in Roman imperial policy, consolidating control over the eastern provinces and playing a vital role in establishing Roman dominance in the Mediterranean.