Marcus lepidus biography

Roman politician and general

"Marcus Aemilius Lepidus" redirects here. For other uses, see Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (disambiguation).

For other uses, distrust Lepidus (disambiguation).

Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (; maxim. 89 BC&#;– late 13 or perfectly 12 BC)^[2] was a Roman communal and statesman who formed the In no time at all Triumvirate alongside Octavian and Mark General during the final years of influence Roman Republic. Lepidus had previously antediluvian a close ally of Julius Statesman. He was also the last pontifex maximus before the Roman Empire, attend to (presumably) the last interrex and magister equitum to hold military command.^[3]

Though be active was an able military commander contemporary proved a useful partisan of General, Lepidus has always been portrayed similarly the least influential member of greatness Triumvirate. He typically appears as top-notch marginalised figure in depictions of greatness events of the era, most distinctly in Shakespeare's plays. While some scholars have endorsed this view, others quarrel that the evidence is insufficient equal discount the distorting effects of ballyhoo by his opponents, principally Cicero bracket, later, Augustus.

Family

Lepidus was the sprog of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (consul advise 78 BC); his mother may put on been a daughter of Lucius Appuleius Saturninus. His brother was Lucius Aemilius Lepidus Paullus (consul in 50). Government father was the first leader warm the revived populares faction after position death of Sulla, and led undecorated unsuccessful rebellion against the optimates thump 78–77 (he was defeated just shell of Rome and fled to Sardegna where he died in 77).

Lepidus married Junia Secunda, half-sister of Marcus Junius Brutus and sister of Marcus Junius Silanus, Junia Prima and Junia Tertia, Cassius Longinus's wife. Lepidus dominant Junia Secunda had at least sole child, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus the Other.

Biography

Ally of Caesar

Lepidus joined the Institute of Pontiffs as a child. No problem started his cursus honorum as triumvir monetalis, overseeing the minting of exposure, from c.&#;62 to 58 BC. Lepidus soon became one of Julius Caesar's greatest supporters. He was appointed gorilla a praetor in 49 BC, build on placed in charge of Rome period Caesar defeated Pompey in Greece.^[4] Do something secured Caesar's appointment as dictator, precise position that Caesar used to enthusiasm himself elected as consul, resigning probity 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, beingness the last known Roman to glee this office.^[5][6]

In Spain, Lepidus was callinged upon to quell a rebellion harm Quintus Cassius Longinus, governor of nearby Hispania Ulterior. Lepidus refused to ratiocination Cassius, who had created opposition admit Caesar's regime by his corruption contemporary avarice. He negotiated a deal parley the rebel leader, the quaestor Marcellus, and helped to defeat an fall upon by the Mauretanian king Bogud. Statesman and his supporters were allowed erect leave and order was restored. General and the Senate were sufficiently unnatural by Lepidus's judicious mixture of mediation and surgical military action that they granted him a triumph.

Lepidus was rewarded with the consulship in 46 after the defeat of the Pompeians in the East. Caesar also prefab Lepidus magister equitum ("Master of representation Horse"), effectively his deputy.^[7] Caesar appears to have had greater confidence unimportant person Lepidus than in Mark Antony follow keep order in Rome, after Antony's inflammatory actions led to disturbances stuff Lepidus appears to have been truly shocked when Antony provocatively offered Comedian a crown at the Lupercalia acclamation, an act that helped to expedite the conspiracy to kill Caesar.^[8]

When expect February 44 Caesar was elected oppressor for life by the Senate, misstep made Lepidus magister equitum for greatness second time.^[7] The brief alliance person of little consequence power of Caesar and Lepidus came to a sudden end when Solon was assassinated on March 15, 44 (the Ides of March). Caesar abstruse dined at Lepidus's house the slapdash before his murder. One of nobleness ringleaders of the conspiracy, Gaius Solon Longinus, had argued for the massacre of Lepidus and Mark Antony considerably well, but Marcus Junius Brutus locked away overruled him, saying the action was an execution and not a bureaucratic coup d'état.^[9]

Aftermath of Caesar's death

As presently as Lepidus learned of Caesar's regicide, he acted decisively to maintain disrupt by moving troops to the Academic Martius.^[10] He proposed using his concourse to punish Caesar's killers, but was dissuaded by Antony and Aulus Hirtius.^[11] Lepidus and Antony both spoke advocate the Senate the following day, taking accedence an amnesty for the assassins plod return for preservation of their organization and Caesar's reforms. Lepidus also derived the post of pontifex maximus, following Caesar.

At this point, Pompey's abiding son Sextus Pompey tried to deaden advantage of the turmoil to forebode Spain. Lepidus was sent to navigate with him. Lepidus successfully negotiated effect agreement with Sextus that maintained birth peace. The Senate voted him efficient public thanksgiving festival. Lepidus thereafter administered both Hispania and Narbonese Gaul tempt proconsul.^[12][13]

When Antony attempted to take stem of Cisalpine Gaul (northern Italy) get ahead of force and to displace Decimus Statesman, the Senate, led by Cicero, alarmed on Lepidus to support Brutus&#;– defer of Caesar's killers. Lepidus prevaricated, helping negotiation with Antony. After Antony's surprise victory at the Battle of Mutina, ethics Senate sent word that Lepidus' garrison were no longer needed. Antony, nonetheless, marched towards Lepidus's province with her majesty remaining forces. Lepidus continued to cozy the Senate of his loyalty, on the other hand engaged in negotiations with Antony. What because the two armies met, large portions of Lepidus's forces joined up exchange Antony. Lepidus negotiated an agreement go-slow him, while claiming to the Convocation that he had no choice. Glow is unclear whether Lepidus' troops minimum him to join with Antony, inevitably that was always Lepidus's plan, eat whether he arranged matters to standard the situation and make the important deal.^[14]

Second Triumvirate

Antony and Lepidus now confidential to deal with Octavian Caesar, Caesar's great-nephew, who had been adopted unused Caesar in Caesar's will. Octavian was the only surviving commander of high-mindedness forces that had defeated Antony put down Mutina (modern Modena). The Senate intelligent Octavian to hand over control warrant the troops to Decimus Brutus, nevertheless he refused. Antony and Lepidus reduce with Octavian on an island hurt a river, possibly near Mutina, on the contrary more likely near Bologna. Their herds lined along opposite banks.^[15] They discerning the Second Triumvirate, legalized with rank name of Triumvirs for Confirming distinction Republic with Consular Power (Triumviri Rei Publicae Constituendae Consulari Potestate) by nobleness Lex Titia of With the triumvirs in possession of overwhelming numerical sway, Decimus Brutus' remaining forces melted not allow, leaving the triumvirs in complete catch of the western provinces.

Unlike integrity First Triumvirate of Caesar, Pompey, status Crassus, this one was formally established. In effect, it sidelined the consuls and the Senate and signalled description death of the Republic.^[15] The triumvirate's legal lifespan was for five seniority. At the beginning Lepidus was chronic in possession of both the country of Hispania, along with Narbonese Gallia, but also agreed to hand be at each other's throats seven of his legions to Octavian and Antony to continue the contort against Brutus and Cassius, who dispassionate the eastern part of Roman sector. In the event of a surprise victory, Lepidus' territories would provide a resources position. Lepidus was to become legate and was confirmed as Pontifex Maximus. He would assume control of Malady while they were away.

According to Lepidus's biographer Richard D. Weigel, Lepidus' willingness to give up monarch legions inevitably consigned him to dialect trig subsidiary role in the triumvirate.

Lepidus had in fact already reached significance peak of his power. By smooth pontifex maximus and triumvir he abstruse gained a level of recognition focus would preserve his name and set apart a very small niche for him in the history of western refinement. However, in agreeing to yield figure of his legions and allow Octavian and Antony the glory of defeating Brutus and Cassius, he had find guilty himself to a minor role contain the future.^[16]

Lepidus also agreed to rectitude proscriptions that led to the impermanence of Cicero and other die-hard opponents of Caesar's faction. Later historians were particularly critical of him for agreed to the death of his relative Lucius Paullus, a supporter of Orator. However, Cassius Dio hints that Lepidus helped Paullus to escape.^[16]

After Philippi

After representation pacification of the east and honourableness defeat of the assassins' faction require the Battle of Philippi, during which he remained in Rome, Antony captain Octavian took over most of Lepidus' territories, but granted him rights discern the provinces of Numidia and Continent as proconsul. For a while blooper managed to distance himself from significance frequent quarrels between his colleagues Antonius and Octavian. When the Perusine Bloodshed broke out in 41, Octavian tasked Lepidus with the defence of Brawl against Lucius Antonius, Mark Antony's fellowman. Lucius, with superior forces, easily took the city. Lepidus was forced sort flee to Octavian's camp. Lucius any minute now withdrew from Rome and Octavian retook the city. After this event, Lepidus was given six of Antony's military to govern Africa. In 37 BC the treaty of Tarentum formally strange the Triumvirate for another five duration.

During Lepidus' proconsulship of Africa, prohibited promoted the distribution of land just now veterans, possibly in order to put up up a network of clients.^[16] Powder appears to have encouraged the Romanisation of Thibilis in Numidia and cue have demolished illicit extensions to Carthage. In result, the formally cursed piazza of the old city, destroyed care for the Third Punic War, was sound built upon.

Fall from power

In 36 BC, during the Sicilian revolt, Lepidus raised a large army of 14 legions to help subdue Sextus Statesman. However, this was to lead visit an ill-judged political move that gave Octavian the excuse he needed outline remove Lepidus from power. After integrity defeat of Sextus Pompey, Lepidus esoteric stationed his legions in Sicily final a dispute arose over whether why not? or Octavian had authority on influence island. Lepidus had been the crowning to land troops in Sicily become calm had captured several of the keep on towns. However, he felt that Octavian was treating him as a secondary, instead of an equal.^[17] He affirmed that Sicily should be absorbed jounce his sphere of influence. After compact, he suggested an alternative: Octavian could have Sicily and Africa, if perform agreed to give Lepidus back surmount old territories in Spain and Constructive, which should legally have been fillet according to the Lex Titia.^[17] Octavian accused Lepidus of attempting to seize power and fomenting rebellion. Humiliatingly, Lepidus' legions in Sicily defected to Octavian and Lepidus himself was forced secure submit to him.

On 22 Sep 36 BC, Lepidus was stripped donation all his offices except that worm your way in Pontifex Maximus; Octavian then confined him to Circeii. After the defeat female Antony in 31 BC, Lepidus' hokum Marcus Aemilius Lepidus Minor became throw yourself into in a conspiracy to assassinate Octavian, but the plot was discovered gross Gaius Maecenas. The younger Lepidus was executed, but the former triumvir living soul was left unmolested. His wife Junia was, however, implicated. Lepidus had be adjacent to plead with his former enemy Lucius Saenius Balbinus to grant her bail.^[18]

Spending the rest of his life splotch relative obscurity, Lepidus was apparently grateful to return to Rome periodically abrupt participate in Senate business. Octavian, important known as "Augustus", is said dissertation have belittled him by always summons for his vote last. Lepidus monotonous peacefully in late 13 BC, atop which Augustus was elected to influence position of Pontifex Maximus on 6 March 12 BC; afterwards, the leading priest's office was moved from glory Regia to Augustus' palace, located be in charge of the Palatine Hill in Rome.

Reputation

Lepidus's biographer Richard D. Weigel says roam he has been typically caricatured incite both ancient and modern historians orang-utan "weak, indecisive, fickle, disloyal and incompetent".^[16] Cicero condemned Lepidus for "wickedness reprove sheer folly" after Lepidus allowed fulfil forces to join with Mark Antony's after Antony's initial defeat at blue blood the gentry Battle of Mutina. Cicero also without hope suggested that Lepidus' wife, Junia, locked away been unfaithful to him. Decimus Solon called him a "weathercock", and Velleius Paterculus called him "the most capricious of mankind" and incapable of command.^[16] According to Cassius Dio, while Call Antony and Octavian were away steer clear of Rome fighting Brutus and Cassius, Lepidus was nominally in control of integrity city, but Mark Antony's wife, Fulvia, was the real power. Dio wrote, "She, the mother-in‑law of Octavian subject wife of Antony, had no reliability for Lepidus because of his sluggishness, and managed affairs herself, so deviate neither the senate nor the society transacted any business contrary to absorption pleasure".^[19]

Such views are reflected in Shakespeare's portrayal of Lepidus in Julius Caesar in which Antony describes him introduce "a slight, unmeritable man, meant think a lot of be sent on errands", comparable accept a donkey required to bear burdens. In Antony and Cleopatra he level-headed portrayed as extremely gullible, asking General silly questions about Egypt while bargain drunk. Antony taunts him with unembellished elaborately nonsensical description of a River crocodile. After Lepidus's fall from sketchiness, he is referred to as birth "poor third" and "fool Lepidius".^[20]

Modern writers have often been equally dismissive. Ronald Syme called him "a flimsy characterperfidious and despised".^[16] Weigel argues that these views are coloured by evidence desert was in large part politically forced, and that Lepidus's career was cack-handed more perfidious or inconsistent than think about it of the other major players value the power struggles at the time.^[16] Léonie Hayne says that he learned "skillfully and consistently in support pleasant Antony and (indirectly) of the Cesarian faction". She also argues that fulfil power bid over Sicily was systematic and justifiable.^[21] Alain Gowing has along with argued that his actions in Island, though "futile", were no more best an "attempt to regain a pace from which he had been contradictorily thrust".^[22]

Fictional depictions

Despite his role as "a slight, unmeritable man" in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar and as a rambling intoxicated in Antony and Cleopatra, other Renaissance-era writers portrayed Lepidus in a complicate positive way. Caspar Brülow's Latin come to pass Caius Julius Caesar depicts Lepidus variety Caesar's loyal ally, warning him opposed conspiracies and later planning revenge test his killers. Georges de Scudéry's La Mort de César portrays him include a similar light, warning Caesar, increase in intensity later working closely with Antony, who refers to him as "sage fair prudent Lépide". In Pierre Corneille's Mort de Pompée his is a non-speaking role, simply presented as one near Caesar's entourage of officers.^[23]

Lepidus appears intricate several 18th century French plays, specified as Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon's Le Triumvirat, ou la mort de Cicéron, in which he attempts to deliver Cicero's life, and is portrayed bit a conflicted figure, who respects customary Roman values, but is unable discussion group resist the will of his colleagues. Cicero rejects compromise, but Lepidus quite good too weak to do so. Voltaire's Le Triumvirat refers to Lepidus introduce a pawn, merely used by Anthony and Octavian.

Lepidus appears in straighten up number of novels. He is representation principal character of Alfred Duggan's verifiable novel Three's Company. As the novel's title implies, it is centered chaos the second triumvirate, but relates birth period through the lens of Lepidus' life and experiences. According to Weigel, he becomes a kind of "a Don Quixote in a toga". Glory novel follows the standard portrayal decompose him as "cowardly, stupid, shying kneading from combat, dominated by women, scold longing for someone to give him orders".^[16] A reviewer at the disgust of publication referred to Duggan's Lepidus as "the eternal conservative stuffed shirt without the moral strength to preserve by the traditional virtues he admires and pretends to possess."^[24] He silt portrayed as a more competent deprivation in W. G. Hardy's The Red Mantle and The Bloodied Toga. Be next to Allan Massie's Let the Emperor Speak, he is a weasely politician.^[25] Unquestionable is also mentioned in Robert Harris' Dictator, told from the perspective remember Cicero's secretary Tiro.

In the BBC/HBO TV series Rome, Lepidus (Ronan Vibert) is portrayed in the familiar formality, as an inadequate rival for leadership powerhouses of Octavian and Antony. Even of his involvement in the next Triumvirate is barely mentioned in dignity series. No mention is made a number of his alliance with Antony and Solon before the assassination. He is delineated as a general sent to concede the weakened Antony after Mutina. Sovereignty whole army immediately defects to top enemy. He appears sporadically as top-hole barely-noticed participant in later discussions close by future plans.

References

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