Page:Roman Constitutional History, 753-44 B.C..djvu/229

Rh outside the walls. He went to Sardinia, where he soon died.

Pompeius in Command in Spain. — The war had been ended, but the weakness of the oligarchy was evident, and invited further attacks. Pompeius, who had been employed as an independent commander during the revolt, did not disband his army, but seized the favorable moment and demanded to be sent to Spain against Sertorius. The consuls of the year were incompetent, and the senate reluctantly conferred on him proconsular authority and the command in hither Spain. It is characteristic of the times that the senate in this case exercised the popular prerogative of conferring supreme authority (imperium) on a private man — an act contrary to the spirit of the constitution. It thereby encouraged the pretensions of Pompeius, and another step was taken toward monarchy.

The Democratic Party. — Though the democratic party was weakened by the failure of Lepidus, it was encouraged by the progress of Sertorius, and soon recovered some strength on account of the misgovernment of the oligarchy. The restoration of the tribunician power remained the sum and substance of the democratic demands. Several tribunes carried on agitations, and with the aid of the moderate group of aristocrats achieved minor successes. Gaius Aurelius Cotta, consul in 75, secured the enactment of a law making ex-tribunes once more eligible to other offices. Later the distribution of grain was regulated, and a Plautian law granted pardon to the associates of Lepidus.

Combination of Pompeius, Crassus, and the Democrats. — Fortunately for the democrats, there was discord in the camp of the oligarchy. After the assassination of Sertorius, Pompeius had gained an easy victory and returned to Rome in 71.