Pompey has irresolutely veered increasingly further away from Caesar, the marriage link between the two having been broken in 54 by Julia's death.

The issue is whether there should or should not be an interval between the date at which Caesar is to resign his provincial governorships and, therewith, the command over his armies and the date at which he will enter his proposed second consulship.

If there is to be an interval, Caesar will be a private person during this time, vulnerable to attack by his enemies; if prosecuted and convicted, he will be ruined politically and might possibly lose his life.

Caesar must ensure that, until his entry on his second consulship, he shall continue to hold at least one province with the military force to guarantee his security.

This issue has already been the object of a series of political maneuvers and counter-maneuvers at Rome.

The dates on which the issue turned are all in doubt.

As had been agreed at Luca in 56, Caesar's commands have been prolonged for five years, apparently until February 28, 49, but this is not certain.

Rome’s equestrian class, who as farmers of the taxes had suffered heavy losses during the disturbances in Syria, are greatly embittered against Aulus Gabinius, and, when he appears in the Senate to give an account of his governorship, he is brought to trial on three counts, all involving a capital offense.

On the charge of maiestas (high treason) incurred by having left his province for Egypt without the consent of the senate and in defiance of the Sibylline books, he is acquitted; it is said that the judges were bribed, and even Cicero, an enemy of Gabinius, was persuaded by Pompey to say as little as he could.

On the second charge, that of repetundae (extortion during the administration of his province), with special reference to the 10,000 talents paid by Ptolemy XII for his restoration, he is found guilty, in spite of evidence offered on his behalf by Pompey and witnesses from Alexandria and the eloquence of Cicero, who has been induced to plead his cause.

Nothing but Cicero's wish to do a favor to Pompey could have induced him to take on the task; it is hinted that the half-heartedness of the defense contributed to Gabinius's condemnation.

The third charge, that of ambitus (illegalities committed during his canvass for the consulship), is consequently dropped; Gabinius goes into exile, and his property is confiscated.

In late 53 BCE, when Milo is a candidate for the consulship, and Clodius for the praetorship, the rivals collect armed bands and clash in the streets of Rome.

Some sources state that on December 6 of this year, Clodius and Milo (each accompanied by an armed escort) chance to pass each other on the Appian Way near Bovillae.

A fight erupts between members of the two groups, and Clodius dies in the ensuing mêlée.

His enraged clients build his funeral pyre in the Senate House, which ignites the building and ultimately burns it down.