Lucullus had commanded the war against Mithridates before he lost it to Pompey, he claimed his treaties were valid not Pompey's. Cato supported him and swayed the senate to his point of view. Tribunes nor consuls seemed to be able to get Pompey what he needed, alone he could not muster enough clout to overcome the opposition of Cato and Bibulus. At this time another powerful Roman had similar problems with the senate. .
Marcus Crassus had been championing the cause of the Publicani, the companies which collected Rome's taxes in the provinces, they had bid to high for the rights and had requested the senate to release them from their contract. The senate declined to do so. Crassus well known to be heavily involved in business himself and highly regarded by the knights, hoped to convince the senate to agree but he failed to convince the house . For him the situation was becoming embarrassing and he was losing much of his auctoritas (his political power and standing) over the entire matter. .
Waiting in the wings while all this was going on was a rising star on the political front. Gaius Caesar a man yet to attain the consulship and one who had shown himself a canny politician. His career had been straightforward enough, aside from his election to the office of pontifex maximus , he was well known not to be friend of the Optimates in the senate. Caesar was in the position to help both powerful men. As consul he could deliver the legislation necessary, in exchange Crassus would supply him with money and the support of the knights and Pompey had prestige and soldiers. The deal was struck, to the horror of the conservatives in the senate.
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2 The consular elections of 60 BC.
The alliance between Crassus, Caesar and Pompey must have been an uncomfortable one. They were three different men especially Pompey must have been somewhat at a disadvantage of the three he was the only one who did not come from an eminent Roman family, yet he was also the one who at the time held the upper hand in Rome.
