ingly conferred upon them supreme military
authority (_maius imperium_), and gave to Sextus Pompey, then at Massalia,
a naval command. At last Cicero could induce the senators to declare
Antony a public enemy. He no longer felt the support of Octavian a
necessity and expressed the attitude of the republicans towards him in the
saying "the young man is to be praised, to be honored, to be set
aside."(14) But it was soon evident that the experienced orator had
entirely misjudged this young man who, so far from being the tool of the
Senate, had used that body for his own ends. Octavian refused to aid
Decimus Brutus, and demanded from the Senate his own appointment as
consul, a triumph, and rewards for his troops. His demands were rejected,
whereupon he marched upon Rome with his army, and occupied the city. On 19
August, he had himself elected consul with Quintus Pedius as his
colleague. The latter carried a bill which established a special court for
the trial of Caesar's murderers, who were condemned and banished. The same
penalty was pronounced upon Sextus Pompey. The Senate's decree against
Antony was revoked.

*The Triumvirate, 43 B. C.* On his way to Transalpine Gaul Antony had met
with Lepidus, whom the Senate had summoned from Spain to the assistance of
Decimus Brutus. But Lepidus was a Caesarian and, alarmed by the success of
Marcus Brutus and Cassius, allowed his troops to go over to Antony.
Decimus Brutus had taken up the pursuit of Antony and joined forces with
Plancus, governor of Narbonese Gaul. However, upon news of the events in
Rome, Plancus abandoned Brutus and joined Antony. Brutus was deserted by
his troops and killed while a fugitive in Gaul.

II. THE TRIUMVIRATE OF 43 B. C.

Octavian had taken care to have the defense of Italy against Antony and
Lepidus entrusted to himself, and hastened northwards to meet the advance
of their forces. But both sides were ready to come to terms and unite
their forces for the purpose of crushing their common enemies, Brutus and
Cassius. Accordingly, at a conference of the three leaders on an island in
the river Renus near Bononia, a reconciliation between Antony and Octavian
was effected and plans laid for their cooeperation in the immediate future.
The three decided to have themselves appointed triumvirs for the
settlement of the commonwealth (_triumviri reipublicae __constituendae_)
for a term of five years. They were to have consular _imperi