Who formed the First Triumvirate with Julius Caesar?

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Statue of Julius Caesar in Roman military attire stands in front of a domed building in Rome, Italy, with a clear blue sky in the background. — Julius Caesar Julius Caesar, bronze sculpture in Rome.

The First Triumvirate was an informal, extralegal political alliance formed in 60 BCE between Julius Caesar, Pompey the Great, and Marcus Licinius Crassus.

It is important to clarify that this partnership was not a formal government institution, but rather a strategic coalition designed to challenge the power of the Roman Senate and secure the political objectives of the three leaders. The alliance functioned as a compact to consolidate influence, distribute provincial commands, and pass legislation favorable to the members' interests. The coalition eventually dissolved following the death of Crassus in 53 BCE and the breakdown of the relationship between Caesar and Pompey.1234