Odoacer vs Pompey the Great

Odoacer, leading a revolt of Germanic foederati, deposed the Western Roman Emperor Romulus Augustulus. He sent the imperial regalia to the Eastern Roman Emperor Zeno, effectively ending the Western Roman Empire.

After deposing Romulus Augustulus, Odoacer was proclaimed King of Italy by his troops. He ruled Italy autonomously while nominally recognizing the authority of the Eastern Roman Emperor, establishing a new political order.

The Eastern Roman Emperor Zeno sent the Ostrogothic king Theodoric the Great to invade Italy and overthrow Odoacer. Odoacer's forces were defeated at the battles of Isonzo and Verona, leading to a prolonged siege of Ravenna.

Odoacer surrendered Ravenna to Theodoric after a three-year siege. Under a truce, Theodoric invited Odoacer to a banquet and killed him with his own hands, ending Odoacer's rule and establishing the Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy.

Pompey was granted extraordinary command under the Lex Gabinia to eliminate piracy in the Mediterranean. He divided the sea into sectors and within three months destroyed pirate fleets and captured their strongholds, restoring Roman trade routes and grain supply.

Pompey took command against Mithridates VI of Pontus, defeating him and forcing his suicide. He then annexed Syria, captured Jerusalem, and established Roman provinces in the East. He organized the region into client kingdoms and provinces, extending Roman hegemony to the Euphrates.

Pompey, Caesar, and Crassus formed a political alliance to advance their individual ambitions. Pompey sought ratification of his Eastern settlements and land for his veterans. The pact dominated Roman politics for a decade until Crassus's death in 53 BC.

Pompey commanded the senatorial army against Caesar at Pharsalus in Greece. Despite numerical superiority, his forces were defeated by Caesar's veterans. Pompey fled to Egypt, expecting refuge, but was assassinated on the orders of the Egyptian court upon arrival.

After his defeat at Pharsalus, Pompey landed in Egypt seeking refuge. On September 28, 48 BC, he was stabbed to death by former Roman soldiers serving the Egyptian king Ptolemy XIII, who hoped to curry favor with Caesar. His head was presented to Caesar.