Editing Lepidus (section)

==Biography==
===Ally of Caesar===
[[File:DisegnoMonetaBasilicaEmiliaRoma.gif|thumb|left|One of the coins minted by Lepidus, celebrating his family's achievements. This depicts the [[Basilica Aemilia]].]]

Lepidus joined the [[College of Pontiffs]] as a child.  He started his ''[[cursus honorum]]'' as ''[[triumvir monetalis]]'', overseeing the minting of coins, from c.&nbsp;62 to 58 BC. Lepidus soon became one of [[Julius Caesar]]'s greatest supporters. He was appointed as a [[praetor]] in 49 BC, being placed in charge of Rome while Caesar defeated [[Pompey]] in Greece.<ref>Holland, Tom, ''Rubicon: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Roman Republic'', Abacus, 2004, {{ISBN|0-349-11563-X}}, 316.</ref> He secured Caesar's appointment as [[Roman dictator|dictator]], a position that Caesar used to get himself elected as consul, resigning the dictatorship after eleven days. Lepidus was rewarded with the position of propraetor in the Spanish province of [[Hispania Citerior]]. Lepidus was also nominated ''[[interrex]]'' by the Senate in 52, being the last known Roman to hold this office.<ref>{{Cite journal|last= Koptev, Aleksandr |url= https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/classical-quarterly/article/abs/fiveday-interregnum-in-the-roman-republic/0EBEC44DCC8C90C719A8FBE08E7F4189|title=The Five-Day Interregnum in the Roman Republic|journal= The Classical Quarterly|date=2016|volume= 66|pages= 205–221|publisher=Cambridge University|doi= 10.1017/S000983881600032X|s2cid= 170900670|oclc=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last= Bauman, Richard A.|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=15MDF-5_qaoC&dq=lepidus+interrex&pg=PA28|title= Lawyers in Roman Transitional Politics: A Study of the Roman Jurists in Their Political Setting in the Late Republic and Triumvirate|date=1985|publisher= Beck, C.H.|isbn = 9783406304859|oclc=}}</ref>

In Spain, Lepidus was called upon to quell a rebellion against [[Quintus Cassius Longinus]], governor of neighbouring [[Hispania Ulterior]]. Lepidus refused to support Cassius, who had created opposition to Caesar's regime by his corruption and avarice. He negotiated a deal with the rebel leader, the quaestor Marcellus, and helped to defeat an attack by the Mauretanian king [[Bogud]]. Cassius and his supporters were allowed to leave and order was restored. Caesar and the Senate were sufficiently impressed by Lepidus's judicious mixture of negotiation and surgical military action that they granted him a [[Roman triumph|triumph]].

Lepidus was rewarded with the [[consul]]ship in 46 after the defeat of the [[Pompey|Pompeians]] in the East. Caesar also made Lepidus ''[[magister equitum]]'' ("[[Master of the Horse#The Roman Master of the Horse|Master of the Horse]]"), effectively his deputy.<ref name="Holland, Rubicon, 346">Holland, ''Rubicon'', 346.</ref> Caesar appears to have had greater confidence in Lepidus than in [[Mark Antony]] to keep order in Rome, after Antony's inflammatory actions led to disturbances in 47. Lepidus appears to have been genuinely shocked when Antony provocatively offered Caesar a crown at the [[Lupercalia]] festival, an act that helped to precipitate the conspiracy to kill Caesar.<ref>Lepidus was probably sitting next to Caesar at the time. According to Cicero, he groaned, turned away, and had tears in his eyes. See Weigel, ''Lepidus: The Tarnished Triumvir'', p. 40.</ref>

When in February 44 Caesar was elected dictator for life by the Senate, he made Lepidus ''magister equitum'' for the second time.<ref name="Holland, Rubicon, 346"/> The brief alliance in power of Caesar and Lepidus came to a sudden end when Caesar was assassinated on March 15, 44 (the [[Ides of March]]). Caesar had dined at Lepidus's house the night before his murder. One of the ringleaders of the conspiracy, Gaius Cassius Longinus, had argued for the killing of Lepidus and Mark Antony as well, but [[Brutus the Younger|Marcus Junius Brutus]] had overruled him, saying the action was an execution and not a political [[coup d'état]].<ref>Holland, ''Rubicon'', 347.</ref>

===Aftermath of Caesar's death===
[[File:Map Gallia Tribes Towns.png|thumb|left|Narbonese Gaul ("Narbonensis") and Cisalpine Gaul ("Gallia Cisalpina"). After Munda, Antony retreated towards Lepidus's territory to join up with him.]]

As soon as Lepidus learned of Caesar's murder, he acted decisively to maintain order by moving troops to the [[Campus Martius]].<ref>Weigel ''Lepidus: The Tarnished Triumvir'' p.43</ref> He proposed using his army to punish Caesar's killers, but was dissuaded by Antony and [[Aulus Hirtius]].<ref>John Hazel, ''Who's Who in the Roman World'', Routledge, London, 2001, p.165.</ref> Lepidus and Antony both spoke in the senate the following day, accepting an amnesty for the assassins in return for preservation of their offices and Caesar's reforms. Lepidus also obtained the post of ''[[pontifex maximus]]'', succeeding Caesar.

At this point, Pompey's surviving son [[Sextus Pompey]] tried to take advantage of the turmoil to threaten Spain. Lepidus was sent to negotiate with him. Lepidus successfully negotiated an agreement with Sextus that maintained the peace. The Senate voted him a public thanksgiving festival. Lepidus thereafter administered both [[Hispania]] and [[Narbonese Gaul]] as [[proconsul]].<ref>Weigel ''Lepidus: The Tarnished Triumvir'' p.50</ref><ref> {{Cite journal |last=Weigel |first=Richard D. |date=1974 |title=Lepidus Reconsidered |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24591370 |journal=Acta Classica |volume=17 |pages=67–73 |issn=0065-1141}}</ref>

When Antony attempted to take control of [[Cisalpine Gaul]] (northern Italy) by force and to displace [[Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus|Decimus Brutus]], the Senate, led by [[Cicero]], called on Lepidus to support Brutus&nbsp;– one of Caesar's killers. Lepidus prevaricated, recommending negotiation with Antony. After Antony's defeat at the [[Battle of Mutina]], the Senate sent word that Lepidus' troops were no longer needed. Antony, however, marched towards Lepidus's province with his remaining forces. Lepidus continued to assure the Senate of his loyalty, but engaged in negotiations with Antony. When the two armies met, large portions of Lepidus's forces joined up with Antony. Lepidus negotiated an agreement with him, while claiming to the Senate that he had no choice. It is unclear whether Lepidus' troops forced him to join with Antony, whether that was always Lepidus's plan, or whether he arranged matters to gauge the situation and make the best deal.<ref>Weigel ''Lepidus: The Tarnished Triumvir'' pp.&nbsp;59–62.</ref>

===Second Triumvirate===
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 | caption2 = '''Top''': the division of Roman territory on the foundation of the Triumvirate (43 BC).<br> '''Bottom''': the division of territory after the Battle of Philippi.<br> {{col-begin}}{{col-2}} {{legend|#81EE5B|Antony}}{{legend|#C19666|Lepidus}}{{legend|#DE8DE0|Octavian}}{{legend|#FF925E|Triumvirs collectively}}{{col-2}}{{legend|#7D87FF|Sextus Pompey}}{{legend|#ED1C24|Brutus & Cassius}}{{legend|#FED250|Rome's client kingdoms}}{{legend|#FF8C8C|Ptolemaic Egypt}}{{col-end}}
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Antony and Lepidus now had to deal with [[Augustus|Octavian Caesar]], Caesar's great-nephew, who had been adopted by Caesar in Caesar's will. Octavian was the only surviving commander of the forces that had defeated Antony at Mutina (modern [[Modena]]). The Senate instructed Octavian to hand over control of the troops to Decimus Brutus, but he refused. Antony and Lepidus met with Octavian on an island in a river, possibly near Mutina, but more likely near Bologna.  Their armies lined along opposite banks.<ref name="Holland, Rubicon, 360">Holland, ''Rubicon'', 360.</ref> They formed the [[Second Triumvirate]], legalized with the name of ''Triumvirs for Confirming the Republic with Consular Power'' (Triumviri Rei Publicae Constituendae Consulari Potestate) by the ''[[Lex Titia]]'' of 43. With the triumvirs in possession of overwhelming numerical superiority, Decimus Brutus' remaining forces melted away, leaving the triumvirs in complete control of the western provinces.

Unlike the [[First Triumvirate]] of Caesar, [[Pompey]], and [[Marcus Licinius Crassus|Crassus]], this one was formally constituted. In effect, it sidelined the [[consul]]s and the Senate and signalled the death of the [[Roman Republic|Republic]].<ref name="Holland, Rubicon, 360"/> The triumvirate's legal lifespan was for five years. At the beginning Lepidus was confirmed in possession of both the provinces of Hispania, along with [[Narbonese Gaul]], but also agreed to hand over seven of his legions to Octavian and Antony to continue the struggle against Brutus and Cassius, who controlled the eastern part of Roman territory. In the event of a defeat, Lepidus' territories would provide a fall-back position. Lepidus was to become consul and was confirmed as Pontifex Maximus. He would assume control of Rome while they were away.

According to Lepidus's biographer Richard D. Weigel, Lepidus' willingness to give up his legions inevitably consigned him to a subsidiary role in the triumvirate. {{quote|Lepidus had in fact already reached the peak of his power. By becoming pontifex maximus and triumvir he had gained a level of recognition that would preserve his name and save a very small niche for him in the history of western civilization. However, in agreeing to yield seven of his legions and allow Octavian and Antony the glory of defeating Brutus and Cassius, he had consigned himself to a minor role in the future.<ref name = "lep"/>}}

Lepidus also agreed to the [[proscription]]s that led to the death of Cicero and other die-hard opponents of Caesar's faction. Later historians were particularly critical of him for agreeing to the death of his brother [[Lucius Aemilius Lepidus Paullus|Lucius Paullus]], a supporter of Cicero. However, [[Cassius Dio]] hints that Lepidus helped Paullus to escape.<ref name = "lep"/>

===After Philippi===
[[File:Repubblica, lepido, aureo, 42 a.c..JPG|thumb|Aureus of Lepidus, c. 42 BC]]

After the pacification of the east and the defeat of the [[Liberatores|assassins' faction]] in the [[Battle of Philippi]], during which he remained in Rome, Antony and Octavian took over most of Lepidus' territories, but granted him rights in the provinces of [[Numidia]] and [[Africa Province|Africa]] as proconsul. For a while he managed to distance himself from the frequent quarrels between his colleagues Antony and Octavian. When the [[Perusine War]] broke out in 41, Octavian tasked Lepidus with the defence of Rome against [[Lucius Antonius (brother of Mark Antony)|Lucius Antonius]], Mark Antony's brother. Lucius, with superior forces, easily took the city. Lepidus was forced to flee to Octavian's camp. Lucius soon withdrew from Rome and Octavian retook the city. After this event, Lepidus was given six of Antony's legions to govern Africa. In 37 BC the treaty of [[History of Taranto|Tarentum]] formally renewed the Triumvirate for another five years.

During Lepidus' proconsulship of Africa, he promoted the distribution of land to [[veterans]], possibly in order to build up a network of clients.<ref name = "lep"/> He appears to have encouraged the [[Romanization (cultural)|Romanisation]] of Thibilis in Numidia and to have demolished illicit extensions to [[Carthage]]. In result, the formally cursed area of the old city, destroyed after the [[Third Punic War]], was not built upon.

===Fall from power===
In 36 BC, during the [[War between Sextus Pompey and the Second Triumvirate|Sicilian revolt]], Lepidus raised a large army of 14 legions to help subdue Sextus Pompey. However, this was to lead to an ill-judged political move that gave Octavian the excuse he needed to remove Lepidus from power. After the defeat of Sextus Pompey, Lepidus had stationed his legions in [[Sicily]] and a dispute arose over whether he or Octavian had authority on the island. Lepidus had been the first to land troops in Sicily and had captured several of the main towns. However, he felt that Octavian was treating him as a subordinate, instead of an equal.<ref name="Weigel, pp.&nbsp;88–9">Weigel, ''Lepidus: The Tarnished Triumvir'', pp.&nbsp;88–9</ref> He asserted that Sicily should be absorbed into his [[sphere of influence]]. After negotiation, he suggested an alternative: Octavian could have Sicily and Africa, if he agreed to give Lepidus back his old territories in Spain and Gaul, which should legally have been his according to the [[Lex Titia]].<ref name="Weigel, pp.&nbsp;88–9"/> Octavian accused Lepidus of attempting to usurp power and fomenting rebellion. Humiliatingly, Lepidus' legions in Sicily defected to Octavian and Lepidus himself was forced to submit to him.

On 22 September 36 BC, Lepidus was stripped of all his offices except that of ''Pontifex Maximus''; Octavian then confined him to [[Circeii]]. After the defeat of Antony in 31 BC, Lepidus' son [[Marcus Aemilius Lepidus Minor]] became involved in a conspiracy to assassinate Octavian, but the plot was discovered by [[Gaius Maecenas]]. The younger Lepidus was executed, but the former triumvir himself was left unmolested. His wife Junia was, however, implicated. Lepidus had to plead with his former enemy [[Lucius Saenius|Lucius Saenius Balbinus]] to grant her bail.<ref>Weigel, ''Lepidus: The Tarnished Triumvir'', p.97.</ref>

Spending the rest of his life in relative obscurity, Lepidus was apparently obliged to return to Rome periodically to participate in Senate business. Octavian, now known as "Augustus", is said to have belittled him by always asking for his vote last. Lepidus died peacefully in late 13 BC, upon which Augustus was elected to the position of ''Pontifex Maximus'' on 6 March 12 BC; afterwards, the chief priest's office was moved from the Regia to  [[House of Augustus|Augustus' palace]], located on the [[Palatine Hill]] in Rome.