Pompey was an ally of Julius Caesar and a rival of Marcus Crassus. These three politicians dominated the Late Roman republic through a political alliance called the First Triumvirate. After the death of Crassus, (as well as Pompey's wife and Julius Caesar's only child Julia) Pompey and Caesar became rivals, disputing the leadership of the Roman state in what is now called Caesar's civil war. He was eventually defeated by Caesar and he fled to Egypt, where he was assassinated. He was an important factor in Caesar's life.