Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (consul 78 BC)

Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (120 BC – 77 BC) was a Roman statesman. After the death of Sulla, he attempted to undermine the Sullan constitution and revive the populares faction. His forces were defeated in a battle on the Campus Martius.

He was the father of the triumvir Marcus Aemilius Lepidus and of the consul of 50 BC Lucius Aemilius Lepidus Paullus.

Lepidus gained wealth and power by politically allying himself with Lucius Cornelius Sulla, but once the dictator had resigned in 79 BC, Lepidus attempted to undermine the Sullan constitution. He was elected consul for the year 78 BC with the support of Pompey, and tried to stop Sulla from being buried in the Campus Martius. However, Pompey turned against his candidate and used his influence to ensure that the full funeral and burial went ahead.

Lepidus passed several resolutions during his term that firmly placed him in the camp of the populares. He offered to restore land that had been taken by Sulla to the Italians. This put him at odds with his fellow consul, Quintus Lutatius Catulus. The two factions came so close to war that the senate made them swear not to fight, and sent Lepidus to administer the province of Transalpine Gaul. The terms of their oath did not prevent Lepidus from returning the next year with an army, so he agreed to it. Before he left, he offered those Sulla had sent into exile a chance to return, a move which alarmed the Senate. They correctly judged that he was attempting to gather his allies around him to start a civil war.

Lepidus was recalled from his province, but brought his army with him back to Rome, where he was defeated by Catulus in a pitched battle on the Campus Martius. Forced into exile in Sardinia, he died soon afterwards.

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