After Caesar 's assassination , Antony , left as sole Consul , surrounded himself with a bodyguard of Caesar 's veterans . He forced the senate to transfer to him the province of Cisalpine Gaul , at the time administered by Brutus , one of the conspirators . Antony , left as sole Consul , surrounded himself with a bodyguard of Caesar 's veterans and forced the senate to transfer to him the province of Cisalpine Gaul , which was then administered by Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus , one of the conspirators .