ΠΕΙΡΑΤΉΣ. РИМ И ПИРАТСТВОТО
ΠΕΙΡΑΤΉΣ. ROME AND PIRACY

Summary/Abstract: The Roman presence in the Mediterranean continued to grow until the 1st century BC and in the Principate. The Romans took note that for it there was already a widespread right (such as the Lex Rhodia) and accepted it. In this context, a particular aspect was the fight against piracy, which was also widespread and present in mare nostrum. The Roman owners themselves were not alien to ordering their servants to practice piracy, which was a source of wealth and was important for increasing the number of slaves. The first radical interventions against piracy were motivated by expansionist aims (such as the attempt for the creation of a Macedonian Empire and the expansion of the Illyrians, headed by the queen of Skodra, Teuta). Around 100 (BC) a provision was issued (known as lex de piratis, while in reality it is more correctly to be called lex de provinciis praetoriis: it envisaged a sort of actio popularis, and obliged the allies to fight piracy. It is Pompey the Great that took more drastic and definitive measures, having almost absolute power, through the plebiscite proposed by Gabinius (lex Gabinia). Pompey combined military action with political action, even envisaging forgiveness for those who had voluntarily abandoned piracy. Confirming that for the resolution of the big problems they can resort to the combination of forceful actions with far-sighted political acts.

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