Syria, took possession of the country in
the name of Rome, and made it a province.

Next he was invited to act as judge between Hyrcanus and Aristobulus,
two aspirants to the Jewish throne. His decision was contrary to
the wishes of the people, and to enforce it he led his army against
Jerusalem, which he captured after a siege of three months. He installed
Hyrcanus on the throne on condition of an annual tribute.

Meanwhile Mithradates had returned to Pontus for the prosecution of his
old design; but so great was the terror inspired by the Roman arms, that
even his own son refused to join him. Desperate at the turn affairs had
taken, the aged monarch put an end to his own life in 63, after a reign
of fifty-seven years. With him ceased for many years all formidable
opposition to Rome in Asia.

Besides Syria, Pontus, to which Bithynia was joined, and Crete were now
made provinces. Cilicia was reorganized, and enlarged by the addition
of Pamphylia and Isauria. The three countries in Asia Minor not
yet provinces, but dependencies, were Galatia, ruled by Deiotarus;
Cappadocia, by Ariobarzanes; and Paphlagonia, by Attalus.

After an absence of nearly seven years, Pompey returned to Rome, January
1, 61, and enjoyed a well earned triumph. He was forty-five years old,
had accomplished a really great work, had founded several cities which
afterwards became centres of Greek life and civilization, and was hailed
as the conqueror of Spain, Africa, and Asia.

The rest of Pompey's life is closely connected with that of Caesar. His
wife, Julia, was Caesar's daughter, and thus far the relations between
the two men had been friendly.

Pompey's absence in the East was marked at Rome by the rise to political
importance of CAESAR and CICERO, and by the conspiracy of CATILINE.

CHAPTER XXVII. CAESAR.--CICERO.--VERRES.

The Caesars were a family belonging to the Julian _gens_, which claimed
descent from IULUS, the son of AENEAS. Eight generations of Caesars
had held prominent places in the commonwealth. They had been Consuls,
Praetors, Censors, Aediles, and were aristocrats of the moderate wing.
The direct ancestry of GAIUS JULIUS CAESAR can be traced no further
back than his grandfather. This gentleman, of the same name as the great
Caesar, married Marcia, who claimed descent from Ancus Marcius, the
fourth King of Rome. They had three children, Gaius Julius, the father
of the Dictator, Sextus Julius, and Julia, who became th