the provinces of Gallia Transalpina and Cisalpina by under normal procedures and instructing the two consuls not to engage in conflict with each other. This indicates substantial support for Lepidus from the upper classes. It was only when Lepidus was ordered to return home to conduct consular elections did the senate turn against him: he demanded a consecutive consulship, "a condition which he must have known was unacceptable". Rebellion Instead of acquiescing, an interrex was appointed for the purpose of holding elections, in which Mamercus Aemilius Lepidus Livianus and Decimus Junius Brutus were elected consuls. The election result was manipulated, with a competitor of Mamercus Lepidus forced to withdraw candidacy. That said, the result itself ensured a clear public statement, however, that the Aemilii Lepidi and Junii Bruti "would survive the elimination of two rogue individual members". Early in 77 BC and the new consular term, a senatus consultum ultimum was passed against this Lepidus at the urging of L Marcius Philippus (consul in 91 and former ex-censor), instructing the proconsul Catulus, interrex Ap Claudius Pulcher, and other magistrates to defend the state. His revolt was joined by L Cornelius Cinna the younger (son of the elder Cinna during the civil war), Marcus Junius Brutus (father of the tyrannicide), one M Perperna, and a Scipio; a young Julius Caesar's support was solicited, but he declined. As "the military quality of Catulus did not inspire confidence", the senate also called upon Pompey to join the cause, giving him an extraordinary command against the rebels. Pompey, invested as a legate with propraetorial powers, quickly recruited an army from among his veterans and threatened Lepidus, who had marched his army to Rome, from the north. Catulus, who had recruited an army at Rome, now took on Lepidus directly defeating him in a battle north of Rome. Meanwhile, Pompey had penned up Marcus Junius Brutus, one of Lepidus's commanders, in Mutina. Pompey then marched against Lepidus' rear catching him near Cosa, but although he defeated him Lepidus was still able to embark part of his army and retreat to Sardinia. References Footnotes Bibliography Ancient sources Appian, The Civil Wars, Book 1, Kessinger Publishing, 2009; Asconius, Commentaries on Speeches of Cicero (Clarendon Ancient History), Oxford University Press, U.S.A., 1993; Florus, Epitome of Roman History (Loeb Classical Library), Loeb, 1929; ASIN: B01A6506H0 Granius Licinianus, Grani Liciniani Quae Supersunt (Classic Reprint)(in Latin), Forgotten Books, 2018: Plutarch, Parallel