Marcus Aemilius Lepidus Porcina

Marcus Aemilius Lepidus Porcina was a consul of the Roman Republic in 137 BC. He was sent to replace his colleague in command of the war against Numantia but was defeated after starting a new war with a tribe in the region, leading to his recall to Rome in disgrace. Career The first office which Lepidus is known to have held is the praetorship; Thomas Robert Shannon Broughton, in Magistrates of the Roman Republic, dates this praetorship tentatively to 143 BC. In his year as praetor, he acted contrary to the Sibylline Oracles to support a project to build an aqueduct to bring water to the Capitoline hill. Lepidus was elected consul prior for 137 BC with Gaius Hostilius Mancinus as his colleague. During his time in the city, he unsuccessfully opposed a proposal of Lucius Cassius Longinus Ravilla, who at the time as plebeian tribune, which would introduce secret ballot for all popular trials – trials held before the people in an assembly – except for charges of perduellio. After Mancinus was defeated by the Numantines and reached a humiliating treaty with them, Mancinus' command was revoked and Lepidus was sent as replacement.