the life of Lepidus
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Birth name:
Born: Died: Cause of death: Era: Political affiliation: Major conflicts: |
Marcus Aemilius Lepidus
88-89 BC - Rome, Italy 12-13 BC - San Felice Circeo, Italy (aged 76-78) Natural causes Roman Republic Populares Caesar's Civil War, Battle of Philippi, Sicilian Revolt |
Early Life & Political career (c. 89-49BC
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Marcus Aemilius Lepidus was born in 89 or 88 BC in the city of Rome. His father, of the same name, was a distinguished politician who instigated the revival of the Populares faction of politics following the death of the dictator Sulla. His father started an ultimately unsuccessfully rebellion against what remained of Sulla's regime in Rome. Lepidus would join the College of Pontiffs while still only a child.
From a young age Lepidus aspired to a political life. He decided to undertake his cursus honorum which placed him in a series of public offices that would prepare him for the life of a politician. From 62-58 BC Lepidus served as a triumvir monetalis where he was responsible for overseeing the minting of coins throughout the Roman Republic. While still in his youth he married a woman named Junia Secunda who was a sister of Brutus. At some point he became aware of Julius Caesar and in time he would become one of his most prominent supporters. Caesar's Civil War (49-45 BC)
In 49 BC during Caesar's civil war against Pompey and the Optimates, Lepidus was appointed to the position of praetor and given the task of keeping Rome in order while Caesar took the war to Greece, Pompey's stronghold in the east. Once the war had been won by Caesar's faction, Lepidus was rewarded with his appointment as Proconsul of Hispania Citerior between 48-47 BC.
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Coin bearing the image of Lepidus. By Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2930269
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When serving in Hispania he successfully avoided a rebellion through his negotiating skills and also repelled an attack from King Bogud of Mauretania. His keen eye for strategy was noticed by Caesar who awarded him a Triumph for his actions. Following his Triumph and the defeat of Pompey in the east, Lepidus served as consul in 46 BC with Caesar as his consular colleague. After Mark Antony failed to maintain order in Rome while Caesar was away in Alexandria, Lepidus was installed as ruler of the city and promoted to magister equitum, or Master of the Horse, essentially making him the second most powerful person in the Republic after Caesar.
Death of Caesar (44 BC)
Lepidus' rise to power seemed to be unstoppable until it was brought to an abrupt halt by the assassination of Caesar. On the Ides of March 44 BC, Caesar was assassinated by a number of conspirators in the Forum, leaving Rome in utter chaos. Many other allies of Caesar, including Mark Antony, fled the city fearing the conspirators would come after them next. Some sources argue that Lepidus and Mark Antony were targets as well, but Brutus - one of the main ringleaders of the conspiracy - had argued against the idea as he wanted as little bloodshed as possible.
Alliance with Mark Antony
Lepidus moved his troops into the city to protect himself and the remaining members of the Populares faction. When Antony finally did return he persuaded Lepidus not to take military action just yet. Instead the two would bide their time to get revenge. During this time Antony helped Lepidus to gain the position of pontifex maximus, the chief priest of Rome, a position last held by Caesar himself.
Lepidus spent his next few months dealing with the son of Pompey the Great, Sextus Pompey, who was threatening to destablise Hispania with his fleet of pirates. Using his excellent negotiating skills once more, he managed to arrive at a truce with Sextus and avoid bloodshed. However, Antony was not faring so well and had invaded Cisalpine Gaul with his army, drawing the fury of the senate who were now marching towards him. The Senate called upon Lepidus to diffuse the situation, by force if necessary, but Lepidus managed to stall long enough so that he could still feign loyalty to the Senate without actually acting. Antony was ultimately defeated but the two reigning consuls died in the battle. Antony fled with what remained of his forces to Lepidus' territory where he sought refuge. Both men would now be seen as outlaws in the eyes of the Senate.
Lepidus spent his next few months dealing with the son of Pompey the Great, Sextus Pompey, who was threatening to destablise Hispania with his fleet of pirates. Using his excellent negotiating skills once more, he managed to arrive at a truce with Sextus and avoid bloodshed. However, Antony was not faring so well and had invaded Cisalpine Gaul with his army, drawing the fury of the senate who were now marching towards him. The Senate called upon Lepidus to diffuse the situation, by force if necessary, but Lepidus managed to stall long enough so that he could still feign loyalty to the Senate without actually acting. Antony was ultimately defeated but the two reigning consuls died in the battle. Antony fled with what remained of his forces to Lepidus' territory where he sought refuge. Both men would now be seen as outlaws in the eyes of the Senate.
Second Triumvirate (43 BC)
Unfortunately for Lepidus and Antony, a new problem would soon arise. Caesar's great-nephew and chief inheritor, Octavian, had journeyed to Rome to claim his inheritance and was now allied with the Senate in opposition to Antony, and indirectly Lepidus. Unexpectedly, Octavian betrayed the Senate and approached the two men, who were currently marching south with their armies, with an offer of alliance. They met at an island in a river, possibly near Bologna to discuss their alliance and further goals. Together, the three of them could rule the Republic much as Caesar, Pompey and Crassus had done. Lepidus and Antony agreed to the new alliance that would later become known as the Second Triumvirate. Combined, they had by far the largest army in the Republic, and the Senate had no choice but to legalise their rule and embed it into the constitution. Lepidus, Antony and Octavian divided the territories of the Republic between them, with Lepidus controlling Spain and southern Gaul. This was considerably more than Octavian, who only had control over Africa.
A coin with the images of Lepidus and Octavian during the time of the Second Triumvirate. By Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=516734
Triumvirs vs liberators (42 BC)
The Second Triumvirate now focused on dealing with Caesar's murderers, now calling themselves the 'Liberators'. Brutus and Cassius had fled to the East where they had fortified their bases, anticipating a war. Octavian and Antony travelled east to take the war to Brutus and Cassius while Lepidus remained in Rome to rule and maintain order. By now Lepidus had reached the zenith of his power and would not remain a significant figure in the triumvirate for long. As the war against Brutus and Cassius grew more intense, Lepidus transferred most of his legions over to Octavian and Mark Antony, giving up any real power or influence. Thanks to Lepidus' transferal of troops, Octavian and Antony managed to defeat Brutus and Cassius at the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC.
Fall from Power (36 BC)
Upon the return of Octavian and Antony it was clear Lepidus was no longer a main player in the Second Triumvirate. The three triumvirs agreed to re-allocate the provinces of the Roman Republic between themselves. Lepidus came out the worst by far, losing control of Hispania and southern Gaul and, instead, assigned to controlling Africa. While ruling Africa he begun the process of distributing land to his veteran soldiers. Meanwhile Octavian and Antony's uneasy alliance had begun to unravel and frequently argued with one another, with Lepidus often trying to avoid being drawn in to their quarrels.
In one of Lepidus' last acts as the ruler of Rome he sanctioned the proscriptions that lead to the deaths of a number of opponents of the Second Triumvirate, including the senator Cicero. His own brother, Lucius Paullus, was also on the list of enemies to be put to death, but Lepidus helped him to escape execution until he was eventually pardoned. In 41 BC Mark Antony's brother, Lucius Antony, invaded Rome forcing Lepidus to flee the city until it was eventually retaken by Octavian and his close friend, Marcus Agrippa.
In 36 BC Sextus Pompey returned once more to threaten the stability of the Second Triumvirate, harassing Italy's western coast and various shipping routes from his base in Sicily. Lepidus, Octavian and Agrippa raised an army of 14 legions and managed to defeat Sextus, forcing him in to surrender. Despite their combined efforts and victory, the two triumvirs began to argue over who should control Sicily. Lepidus had landed first and claimed that it belonged to him. He even suggested giving it to Octavian providing he could have his old provinces of Hispania and southern Gaul back - which were still meant to be his by right. Lepidus was accused of trying to illegally seize power, causing his legions to abandon him in favour of Octavian and essentially stripped him of what little power he had left. It is unknown if this was a false accusation or if he was truly trying to start a revolt in Sicily. Lepidus had no choice but to surrender and he was subsequently relieved of his various offices of power save for that of Pontifex Maximus, and was exiled from Rome.
In one of Lepidus' last acts as the ruler of Rome he sanctioned the proscriptions that lead to the deaths of a number of opponents of the Second Triumvirate, including the senator Cicero. His own brother, Lucius Paullus, was also on the list of enemies to be put to death, but Lepidus helped him to escape execution until he was eventually pardoned. In 41 BC Mark Antony's brother, Lucius Antony, invaded Rome forcing Lepidus to flee the city until it was eventually retaken by Octavian and his close friend, Marcus Agrippa.
In 36 BC Sextus Pompey returned once more to threaten the stability of the Second Triumvirate, harassing Italy's western coast and various shipping routes from his base in Sicily. Lepidus, Octavian and Agrippa raised an army of 14 legions and managed to defeat Sextus, forcing him in to surrender. Despite their combined efforts and victory, the two triumvirs began to argue over who should control Sicily. Lepidus had landed first and claimed that it belonged to him. He even suggested giving it to Octavian providing he could have his old provinces of Hispania and southern Gaul back - which were still meant to be his by right. Lepidus was accused of trying to illegally seize power, causing his legions to abandon him in favour of Octavian and essentially stripped him of what little power he had left. It is unknown if this was a false accusation or if he was truly trying to start a revolt in Sicily. Lepidus had no choice but to surrender and he was subsequently relieved of his various offices of power save for that of Pontifex Maximus, and was exiled from Rome.
Death & Legacy (c. 12 BC)
Little is known about the later life of Lepidus. Octavian now ruled, in effect, as the emperor and had taken the name Augustus. There was a clear effort by Augustus to ensure Lepidus never returned to power and that he remained insignificant in the running of the Roman Empire. He was often allowed to return to Rome but only to participate and vote in the matters of the senate, which had lost much of its influence and power ever since Augustus took power. Some historians from the time stated that Lepidus would often be asked to vote last by Augustus. He was essentially a prisoner in all but name. Lepidus would die peacefully from natural causes in late 13 BC.
Trivia
- Lepidus was the oldest of the Second Triumvirate.
- He is often portrayed as being weak, but this is far from the truth as he proved to be politically cunning and a skilled military strategist. member of the triumvirate. Some historians believe these portrayals are due to negative propaganda designed by Augustus to make him look inept.
- Lepidus had one brother, Lucius Aemilius Lepidus Paullus, who was a critic of the Second Triumvirate and staunch supporter of Cicero.
- Lepidus had hosted Caesar at his estate for dinner the day before his assassination.
- His own son, Lepidus the Younger, was part of a conspiracy to kill Octavian in 30 BC. The plot was discovered and he was executed.