Why did Pompey demand a triumph after his African campaign?

Pompey the Great demanded a triumph following his successful campaign in Africa (82–81 BCE) as a means of asserting his political and military status, despite not holding a regular magistracy at the time.123

After completing the task of recovering Sicily and Africa for Lucius Sulla, Pompey refused to disband his army and appeared at the gates of Rome with his forces. By leveraging the threat of his military power, he effectively blackmailed Sulla into granting him the honor. This act was highly unconventional, as a triumph was traditionally reserved for a magistrate cum imperio who had won a major battle and ended a war. Pompey’s demand demonstrated his early political ambition and his willingness to bypass established Roman norms to secure personal prestige and authority.132