Editing Lepidus (section)

===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.