A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

6. Q.PomeiusRufus, Q. F., either son or grandson of No. 3, was a zealous supporter of the aristocratical party. In his tribunate of the plebs, B. C. 100, he brought forward a bill, in conjunction with his colleague L. Cato, for the recal of Mctellus Macedonicus from banishment (Oros. 5.17.) He was praetor B. C. 91 (Cic. de Orat. 1.37), and consul, B. C. 88, with L. Sulla. In the latter year the civil war broke out between Marius and Sulla respecting the command of the Mithridatic war. The history of these events is related in the life of MARIUS [p. 957]; and it is only necessary to mention here that the tribune P. Sulpicius Rufus, who was the great agent of Marius, had previously been the personal friend of Pompeius; but such was the exasperation of political feeling, that Sulpicius had recourse to arms against his former friend, in order to carry his measure for incorporating the new citizens among the old tribes. In the riots which ensued, the young son of Pompeius was murdered. Pompeius himself was deprived of his consulship and fled to Nola, where Sulla had a powerful army. At the head of these troops the two consuls speedily returned to Rome, and proscribed Marius and his leading partizans. Sulla then set out for the East to conduct the war against Mithridates, leaving Italy in charge of Pompeins. To the latter was assigned the army of Cn. Pompeius Strabo, who was still engaged in carrying on war against the Marsi; but Strabo, who was unwilling to be deprived of the command, caused Pompeius Rufus to be murdered by the soldiers

snortly after his arrival in the camp, having previously viously received him without opposition. [See below, No. 21.] Cicero mentions Pompeius Rufus among the orators whom he had heard in his youth : his orations were written or corrected by L. Aelius. (Appian, App. BC 1.55_57, 63; Vell. 2.20 ; Liv. Epit. 77; Plut. Sull. 8; Cic. Lacl. 1. pro Cluent. 5, Brut. 56, 89.