Gaul, Marcus Brutus and Cassius lingered in the neighborhood of
Rome. Antony was master of the situation in the capital and overawed
opposition by his bodyguard of 6000 veterans. He held in check Lepidus and
other Caesarians who called for vengeance upon the conspirators. Lepidus
was won over by his election to the position of Pontifex Maximus to
succeed Caesar and was induced to leave the city for his province of
Hither Spain to check the progress of Sextus Pompey, who had reappeared in
Farther Spain and defeated the Caesarian governor. It was hoped that
Sextus would be satisfied with permission to return to Rome and
compensation for his father's property. Caesar's arrangements for the
provincial governorships had assigned Macedonia to Antony and Syria to
Dolabella, who became Antony's colleague in the consulate at Caesar's
death. This assignment Antony altered by a law which granted him Cisalpine
Gaul and the Transalpine district outside the Narbonese province for a
term of six years in violation of a law of Caesar's, which limited
proconsular commands to two years. Dolabella was to have Syria for a like
period and Decimus Brutus was given Macedonia in exchange for Cisalpine
Gaul. The consuls were to occupy their provinces at once. To Brutus and
Cassius were assigned for the next year the provinces of Crete and Cyrene;
while for the present they were given a special commission to collect
grain in Sicily and Asia. The two left Italy for the East with the
intention of seizing the provinces there before the arrival of Dolabella.
They hoped to raise a force which would enable them to check Antony's
career, for it was evident that Antony regarded himself as Caesar's
political heir and was planning to follow the latter's path to absolute
power.

*Caius Octavius.* But he found an unexpected rival in the person of
Caesar's adopted son, Caius Octavius, a youth of eighteen years, who at
the time of Caesar's death was at Apollonia in Illyricum with the army
that was being assembled for the Parthian War. Against the advice of his
parents he returned to Rome and claimed his inheritance. His presence was
unwelcome to Antony, who had expended Caesar's money, and refused to
refund it. Thereupon Octavius raised funds by selling his own properties
and borrowing, and began to pay off the legacies of Caesar. By this means
he soon acquired popularity with the Caesarians. The formalities of his
adoption were not completed until the followi