Lex Gabinia de piratis persequendis
- 1The law was enacted in 67 BC to combat Mediterranean piracy.
- 2It granted Pompey the Great extensive proconsular powers.
- 3The legislation was proposed by the tribune Aulus Gabinius.
- 4It allowed for the appointment of legates and the allocation of significant financial resources.
The lex Gabinia, lex de uno imperatore contra praedones instituendo or lex de piratis persequendis was an ancient Roman special law passed in 67 BC, which granted Pompey the Great proconsular powers in any province within 50 miles of the Mediterranean Sea without holding a properly elected magistracy for the purpose of combating piracy.
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example of Populares-led legislative action
This law, which granted Pompey extraordinary powers to combat piracy, was passed by the popular assembly despite strong opposition from the Optimates in the Senate.
The Lex Gabinia, also known as the law for the suppression of piracy, was a significant piece of Roman legislation passed in 67 BC. Proposed by the tribune Aulus Gabinius, the law granted Pompey the Great extraordinary proconsular powers to combat the widespread threat of piracy across the Mediterranean Sea.
Bust of Pompey the Great.Wikimedia Commons: File:Pompeius_Kopenhagen-contrast.png This law was notable for granting Pompey authority over any province within 50 miles of the coast, along with access to substantial financial resources and the ability to appoint numerous legates. By bypassing traditional requirements for holding a magistracy, the Lex Gabinia demonstrated the growing trend of granting immense, concentrated power to individual generals to address specific national crises.