LEPIDUS, MARCUS AEMILIUS

died 152 BC Roman statesman who held the highest offices of the republic. As ambassador to Greece, Syria, and Egypt in 200, he delivered to Philip V an ultimatum warning Macedonia not to make war on any Greek state. Consul in 187 and 175, censor in 179, pontifex maximus from 180 onward, and princeps senatus from 179 to 152, Lepidus fought against the Ligurians, directed the construction of the Via Aemilia from Ariminum (Rimini) to Placentia (Piacenza), and led colonies to Mutina (Modena) and Parma. The district of northern Italy called Emilia still preserves his name. died 13/12 BC Roman statesman, one of the triumvirs who ruled Rome after 43. He was the son of a prominent politician (died c. 77) of the same name. Lepidus joined the Caesarian side during the Civil War (4945) between Caesar and the adherents of Pompey. He ruled part of Spain in 4847 and was consul in 46. In 45 he became Caesar's magister equitum (master of the cavalry). After the murder of Caesar, Lepidus joined the Caesarian leader Mark Antony against the conspirators. Antony obtained for Lepidus the office of pontifex maximus (high priest), and in October 43 Lepidus formed the triumvirate with Antony and Octavian (later the emperor Augustus) at Bononia (modern Bologna). Lepidus was consul again in 42, but his two colleagues soon deprived him of most of his power. His provinces of Gaul and Spain were taken from him, and he was confined to the government of Roman Africa and only formally included in the renewed triumvirate of 37. In 36 he attempted to raise Sicily in revolt against Octavian, but his soldiers deserted his cause. Although allowed to remain pontifex maximus, Lepidus was forced to retire from public life. died c. 77 BC, , Sardinia Roman senator who attempted unsuccessfully to overthrow the constitution imposed by the dictator Sulla. Although he had supported Sulla's rise to power, Lepidus was elected consul for 78 with the help of Pompey, despite Sulla's opposition. When Sulla died in 78, Lepidus sought to rescind the dictator's measures. He called for the renewed distribution of cheap grain, recall of exiles, restoration of confiscated lands, and, ultimately, the reestablishment of the office of tribune. When his proposals were rejected by the Senate, he gathered forces in Etruria and Cisalpine Gaul and marched on Rome, demanding reelection to the consulship for 77. After being repelled by Quintus Lutatius Catulus at Rome's Milvian Bridge, Lepidus was defeated by Pompey in Etruria. He escaped to Sardinia, where he died shortly thereafter. His son Marcus Aemilius Lepidus was one of the triumvirs who ruled Rome after 43.