Lex Gabinia
The Lex Gabinia was a in 67 BC. Law enacted by the late Roman Republic . It was issued by the people's assembly at the request of the tribune Aulus Gabinius . In the matter it empowered General Pompey by extraordinary supreme command ( imperium extraordinarium ) to fight the pirates operating in the entire Mediterranean area . It was supposed to prevent the disruption of trade because Rome saw its grain supply endangered.
The Lex Gabinia provided Pompeius with an unprecedented level of power for military operations . This supported a fleet of 500 ships with 120,000 infantrymen, 5,000 horsemen and a budget of 36 million denarii. The fleet operation spanned all shores of the Mediterranean and the land forces operated up to 50 miles inland. It is controversial in research whether this imperium was already an imperium proconsulare maius , as it was later awarded to Augustus, or the somewhat smaller imperium proconsulare aequum . It is therefore unclear what the relationship between Pompey's authority and the authority of the provincial governors in whose territories he was operating. The commanders were not always ready to submit to Pompey. Rifts occurred in Crete , for example , where Metellus Creticus fought against the pirates.
Although Pompey was popular with the people, the Roman Senate was reluctant to concentrate so much power on one person through an extraordinary empire. It was feared that Pompey might rise to the position of sole ruler, as Sulla had only done 15 years earlier . Nevertheless, the tribunes were able to enforce the law because the pirate problem was pressing. Gabinius initiated a dismissal procedure against the tribune Lucius Trebellius , who had originally vetoed the law at the popular assembly , whereupon Trebellius withdrew his objection.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Der Neue Pauly , Volume 11, Col. 332 sv Seeraub