Page:Roman Constitutional History, 753-44 B.C..djvu/279

Rh violent, he was yet unable to restrain the insubordinate, and he repelled those whom he ought to have conciliated. P. Cornelius Dolabella, a tribune and Cicero's son-in-law, renewed the proposals of Caelius (p. 262). But the plebeian assembly which he summoned was dispersed by Antony, who had been empowered by a final senatorial decree to protect the city. Some eight hundred persons were killed in the riot; still the agitations continued.

After conquering in Egypt and defeating Pharnaces, Caesar returned to Rome in September, 47. He seems to have suspended Antony, but pardoned Dolabella. By a new law he remitted to tenants the house rents for one year to the amount of about $110 in Rome and $28 elsewhere in Italy; and he established the rule that in Italy no one should lend at interest a greater amount of money than perhaps half the value of his Italian real estate, and no one was to encumber his landed estate with debts exceeding possibly half its value. He abolished by edict the religious clubs, excepting those of long standing and the one of the Jews. These organizations had once more become the hotbeds of democratic agitation.

Elections for 47 and 46. — In order to reward his followers, Caesar held the elections for 47. He had his old henchman, P. Vatinius, chosen consul. He nominated praetors, curule aediles, and quaestors, who were then elected. He increased the number of pontiffs, augurs, and keepers of the later Sibylline books from fifteen to sixteen, that of masters of sacrificial banquets from seven to ten, and of praetors from eight to ten. He remunerated other adherents by appointing them senators.

At the consular election for 46 Caesar was elected for the third time, and in violation of the Licinian law the patrician, M. Aemilius Lepidus, became his colleague. He again