The territorial agreement among the triumvirs and Sextus Pompeius had begun to crumble once Octavian divorced Scribonia and married Livia on January 17, 38 BCE.

Octavian and Antony's frequent quarrels are a strong political motivation for resuming the war against Sextus.

One of Sextus' naval commanders betrays him and hands over Corsica and Sardinia to Octavian; however, Octavian needs Antony's support to attack him.

The differences that have arisen between Antony and Octavian are ostensibly settled by the Treaty of Tarentum, which prolongs the triumvirate, in which Lepidus is only formally included, for a further five years.

Under the original deal, Lepidus had received both Hither and Further Spain, along with southern Gaul, as his portion.

He had been consul again in 42, but his two colleagues had soon deprived him of most of his power.

His provinces of Gaul and Spain taken from him, he has been confined to the government of Roman Africa.