Augustus and the Death of a Rival: Sextus Pompey

In this episode, we explore the brutal naval war between Augustus and Sextus Pompey, the son of the legendary general Pompey the Great. While earlier episodes covered the political maneuvering after Actium, this conversation dives into the specific conflict that controlled Rome’s grain supply from Sicily. We examine how Marcus Agrippa built a navy from scratch to defeat Sextus at the Battle of Naulochus in 36 BCE. The discussion covers the innovative ship designs, the strategic blockade of the Strait of Messina, and the eventual betrayal and execution of Sextus by Mark Antony’s allies. This was not just a military victory but a crucial step in consolidating Octavian’s power over Italy’s food supply. Listeners will learn about the trireme variations used, the role of the praefectus classis, and how this conflict set the stage for the final showdown with Antony and Cleopatra. #SextusPompey #MarcusAgrippa #BattleOfNaulochus #StraitOfMessina #Sicily #RomanNavy #Trireme #Octavian #MarkAntony #GrainSupply #Annaea #Misenum #36BCE #LateRomanRepublic #NavalWarfare #RomanHistory #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo