"Let arms yield to the toga" : M. Aemilius Lepisus' arbitration and mediation in Northern Italy in the 2nd century BC

Roman arbitrators acted on the basis of the authority given to them by the Senate (senatus consulta), which first became familiar with the cause of the dispute. Disputes were usually solved by Roman officials (proconsul, governor) or specially delegated legates and decemviri with prepared instructions which gave them the authority to solve the matter on the spot and to enforce the decisions they made. The procedure applied both to the Greek world and the western part of the Mediterranean Sea, where Rome held power in North Africa and in the Northern Italy. The patrician family of Aemilii Lepidi played a very significant role in making Cisalpine Gaul dependent on Rome. The most active member in northern Italy in the first half of the 2nd century was the meritorious M. Aemilius Lepidus (the 187 and 175 consul, 179 censor, 199 pontifex maximus and six-time princeps senatus). M. Aemilius Lepidus had started to be perceived in Rome as an expert on Cisalpine matters. Lepidus’ activity in Cisalpine Gaul brought him considerable political benefits. It enabled him to become an arbiter in various disputes between Roman citizens and inhabitants of Cisalpine Gaul as well as in internal conflicts in the region. In 187, one of the praetors - M. Furius Crassipes, trying to provoke a military response from the Celtic Cenomani, ordered them to surrender the weapons which they were allowed to have in accordance with the foedus agreed with Rome. The Cenomani sent legates to the Senate to submit a complaint, but the Senate sent them to the consul M. Aemilius Lepidus operating in northern Italy, who was in charge of the territory, in order to settle the disagreement. Aemilius Lepidus’ arbitration was favourable to the Cenomani, who were to be given back their weapons; the praetor was to withdraw from their lands. In solving this case, Aemilius Lepidus probably followed the terms of the foedus between the Republic and the allies. The verdict positive for the Cenomani in the dispute with the praetor likely led to him being perceived as a man who could be addressed in case of any conflicts with Roman magistrates. His conciliatory skills were taken advantage of in case of internal disputes. One such example was the arbitration in the internal dispute between factions in Patavium (Veneti) in 175/174. In 171, he became also a legate in the dispute between the consul G. Cassius Longinus and the tribes of Japodes, Histri and Carni - Roman allies