e on friendly terms, and the former made use of a grain
famine in the city to secure for himself an appointment as curator of the
grain supply (_curator annonae_) for a period of five years. This
appointment carried with it proconsular _imperium_ within and without
Italy, and the control of the ports, markets and traffic in grain within
the Roman dominions. It was really an extraordinary military command.
Pompey relieved the situation but could do nothing to allay the disorders
in Rome, where Clodius and Milo with their armed gangs set law and order
at defiance. The news of Caesar's victories and the influence which he was
acquiring in the city by a judicious distribution of the spoils of war
fired the ambitions of Pompey and Crassus who were no longer on good terms
with one another. Furthermore, the return of Cato in 56 B. C. had again
given the Optimates an energetic leader. Consequently Caesar felt it
necessary for the coalition to reach a new agreement. Accordingly while
spending the winter in Cisalpine Gaul he arranged a conference at Luca in
April, 56, where the three settled their differences and laid plans for
the future. They agreed that Pompey and Crassus should be consuls in 55
B. C., that the former should be given the Spanish provinces and Libya for
five years, that Crassus should have Syria for an equal period, and that
Caesar's command in Gaul should be prolonged for another five year term to
run from 1 March, 54.(12)

These arrangements were duly carried out. Since it was too late for Pompey
and Crassus to be candidates at the regular elections in 56 B. C., they
forcibly prevented any elections being held that year. The following
January, after forcing the other candidates to withdraw, they secured
their election. Thereupon a law of the tribune Gaius Trebonius made
effective the assignment of provinces agreed upon at Luca. Once more it
was made plain that the coalition actually ruled the empire. Cicero, who
was indebted to Pompey for his recall, was forced to support the
triumvirate, and the Optimates found their boldest leader in Cato, who had
returned to Rome early in 56 B. C.

*Caesar's crossing of the Rhine and invasion of Britain: 55-54 B. C.*
During the winter following the subjugation of the Veneti, two Germanic
tribes, the Usipetes and the Tencteri, crossed the lower Rhine into Gaul.
In the next summer, 55 B. C., Caesar attacked and annihilated their
forces, only a few escaping across the river.