Lepidus - Marcus Aemilius Lepidus

A Roman politician. He was a member of the Aemilius family, a noble family (patrici). In the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, he served the former as praetor in 49 BC, governor of Spain in 48 and 47 BC, and consul in 46 BC. When Caesar became dictator (third term) in the same year, he served as his lieutenant until his death. When Caesar was assassinated by the Republicans in March 44 BC, he and Antony created a favorable situation for the Caesarists, and became Caesar's successor as Great Priest. In the autumn of the following year, he was appointed as a "Triumph for the Reconstruction of the State" with Antony and Octavian for a five-year term, and took control of the government (the so-called Second Triumvirate). After the defeat of the Republicans in 42 BC, the Triumvirate expelled the Republicans and confiscated their property, but Lepidus gradually lost power thereafter. In 37 BC the term of the Triumvirate was extended for another five years, but the following year Lepidus was stripped of his position as a Triumvirate, dropping out of the power struggle and resigning to his position as Archpriest.

[Tadanori Yoshimura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

古代ローマの政治家。名門貴族（パトリキ）アエミリウス氏族の出身。カエサルとポンペイウスとの間の内乱で前者に従い、前49年プラエトル（法務官）、前48、47年スペイン総督、前46年コンスルとなった。同年カエサルが独裁官（第三次）になると、彼の死まで副官を務めた。前44年3月にカエサルが共和派に暗殺されると、アントニウスとともにカエサル派に有利な状況をつくりだし、カエサルの後任として大神祇(だいじんぎ)官になった。翌年秋、アントニウス、オクタウィアヌスとともに任期5年の「国家再建のための三人委員」に任命されて政権を握り（いわゆる第二次三頭政治）、前42年に共和派が敗れたのち、三人委員は共和派の追放、財産没収を行ったが、以後レピドゥスはしだいに勢力を失う。前37年に三人委員の任期はさらに5年延長されたが、翌年レピドゥスは委員の地位を奪われ、権力闘争から脱落、大神祇官の地位に甘んじた。

［吉村忠典］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例