asked Pompey for his backing. Suspecting he favoured Hyrcanus, Aristobulus withdrew to Judea, where he was followed by Pompey, who compelled him to surrender Jerusalem. Its defenders refused to comply and took refuge in the Temple, which the Romans first stormed, then looted. Hyrcanus was installed as ruler, but Judea became a client kingdom, while its northern section was removed and re-organised into a league of semi-autonomous cities known as the Decapolis (see Map). Both Judea and the League were made subordinate to the new Roman province of Syria, after which Pompey returned to Cilicia. Other organisational changes included the merger of parts of Pontus with the province of Bithynia, creating Bithynia and Pontus. The rest of Mithridates' territories were divided between Roman allies, including Antiochus of Commagene, Aristarchus of Colchis, and Pharnaces. Elsewhere, Ariobarzanes I of Cappadocia was restored to his throne, while Lesser Armenia was taken from Tigranes and incorporated into Galatia, with Pompey's client Deiotarus becoming ruler of the new kingdom. Finally, Cilicia received the coastal region of Pamphylia, previously a centre of piracy, along with other inland areas and reorganised into six parts. Although these actions significantly increased Roman state income, they also presented Pompey multiple opportunities to increase his personal wealth and patronage base. Return to Rome and the First Triumvirate Pompey prepared for his return to Italy in 62 BC by distributing 16,000 talents to his troops. Rumours spread that he intended to use them to establish a monarchy, but in the event the army was disbanded upon arrival at Brundisium. Large crowds attended his procession to Rome, a reflection of the reality that although opinion in the Senate was divided, Pompey remained as popular as ever with the urban masses. His achievements in Asia Minor earned Pompey a third triumph, celebrated on his 45th birthday in 61 BC. He claimed to have increased Rome's annual income from 200 million to 340 million sesterces, as well as handing over a further 480 million sesterces in booty to the state treasury. Pompey refused to provide details of his personal fortune, although many speculated he must have surpassed Crassus. He used some of it to begin construction of one of the most famous structures of Ancient Rome, the Theatre of Pompey. However, the Senate then refused to ratify the various treaties agreed in the course of Pompey's Eastern Campaigns. Led by Cato the Younger and Metellus