The unglamorous contemporary of Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, Marcus Aemilius Lepidus was, nevertheless, a member of the Second Triumvirate who played a significant role in the political, religious and military affairs of the late Republic. Through a careful examination of Lepidus's career, Richard D. Weigel suggests that Lepidus was a competent ruler who was consistent in serving the Republic's needs as he understood them. Lepidus is an ideal source for anyone interested in gaining a greater understanding of the late Roman Empire.