Celer, who resented Pompey's recent divorce of his sister Mucia, in 60 BC the optimates also defeated a bill to distribute farmland to his veterans, and landless members of the urban poor. A similar measure had been rejected in 63 BC, resulting in the Catilinarian conspiracy, whose suppression arguably made the Senate over confident in their ability to control popular unrest. Although Pompey could not overcome optimate opposition on his own, the situation changed when Julius Caesar sought his support when campaigning for the consulship. The nephew of Marius and a skilled, unscrupulous and highly ambitious politician, an alliance allowed him to harness Pompey's influence with the urban electorate. With Crassus also backing his candidature, Caesar became one of the two consuls for 59 BC, the other being the optimate candidate, Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus. This meant he could help pass legislation sponsored by his patrons, while it was in his interest to keep them aligned, an important factor given the rivalry between the two men. Despite being the most junior, Caesar thus became central to the First Triumvirate, an informal political alliance designed to counter-balance the optimates. Pompey's influence was based on his reputation as a military commander, popularity with the Roman people, and on the votes gained from his personal support and wealth. Reputedly the richest man in Rome, Crassus also had extensive patronage networks, but lacked the military clout which had become essential for success in the late Republican era. Caesar immediately proposed an new agrarian bill, which passed with the help of Pompey's veterans, who filled the streets of Rome and allegedly intimidated the Senate. The measure was opposed by Bibulus, who was attacked in the forum by hired thugs, and subsequently retired from politics. Caesar then ensured ratification of Pompey's settlements in the east, while the Lex Vatinia made him governor of Gallia Cisalpina and Illyricum. He was also assigned Gallia Transalpina after its governor died in office, before leaving Rome to launch the Gallic Wars in 58 BC. Pompey also married Caesar's daughter Julia, even though she was betrothed to another man. Pompey now used the populist politician Publius Clodius Pulcher to attack Cicero, leader of optimate opposition to the triumvirate in the Senate. Clodius succeeded in having Cicero exiled, but when he turned against Pompey, the latter had Cicero recalled. When food shortages caused popular unrest in 58 BC, a grateful Cicero backed Pompey's