 It is uncertain whether he was directly involved in politics for the following few years.In 51 BC he reluctantly accepted a promagistracy (as proconsul) in Cilicia for the year; there were few other former consuls eligible as a result of a legislative requirement enacted by Pompey in 52 BC specifying an interval of five years between a consulship or praetorship and a provincial command.He served as proconsul of Cilicia from May 51, arriving in the provinces three months later around August.