[1] In 49 BC, early in the Civil War, Sextus was in Spain, serving in the army of his cousin, who dispatched him as an ambassador to Marcus Terentius Varro, one of Pompeius' commanders, whom Caesar later pardoned after the Battle of Pharsalus.
[4][5] At this time, Quintus Caecilius Bassus, one of Pompeius' lieutenants, who had fled to Tyre after the Battle of Pharsalus, endeavoured to gain the support of some of Sextus' soldiers.
When the governor discovered his activity, Bassus gave the excuse that he was collecting troops to assist Mithridates of Pergamon.
Bassus then spread the rumour that Caesar had been defeated and killed in Africa, and claimed that he had been appointed governor of Syria.
Bassus claimed the title of praetor, and most of Sextus' troops, although a few remained loyal, and fled to Cilicia.