Editing Second Triumvirate (section)

==== Sicily ====
[[File:S Pompée aureus Sicile C des M.jpg|thumb|Sextus Pompey, depicted on an [[aureus]] minted {{Circa|36&nbsp;BC}}.]]
[[File:War with Sextus Pompeius part 2 en.png|thumb|Troop movements during the joint campaign against Sextus.]]

Agrippa prepared exhaustively for Octavian's campaign against Sicily.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=34}} Octavian also was able to secure support from Lepidus in Africa, who possibly had plans of his own. In July 36&nbsp;BC, Octavian and Lepidus launched a three-pronged attack on Sicily with Octavian's forces landing in the north and east while Lepidus landed in the south.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=34}}

Initially, Octavian's naval forces were beset by storms. Lepidus' forces, however, successfully effected a landing in his theatre and placed one of Sextus' lieutenants under siege in [[Lilybaeum]]. In the north and east, there were naval battles: Octavian was personally defeated off [[Taormina|Tauromenium]] while Agrippa was victorious off [[Milazzo|Mylae]]. Even so, Sextus' forces were stretched thin and Octavian was able to effect landings of 21 legions onto the island. A decisive naval battle ended the campaign, with Agrippa defeating Sextus near [[Battle of Naulochus|Naulochus]] on 3 September 36&nbsp;BC. Sextus, able to muster only 17 ships, fled for Antony in the east.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=35}}

Lepidus, buoyed by victory, attempted to suborn Octavian's troops. After accepting the surrender of Sextus Pompey's legions, he attempted to negotiate with Octavian to exchange Sicily and Africa for his old provinces of Narbonensis and Spain. Octavian, walking into Lepidus' camp almost unaccompanied, secured the loyalty of the soldiers; defeated, Lepidus was then stripped of membership in the triumvirate and his provincial commands. Kept in his property, life, and the title of ''[[pontifex maximus]]'', Lepidus was forced into exile and retirement.{{sfn|Pelling|1996|p=36}}