in 50 bc marcus calpurnius bibulus, proconsul of syria, sent his two eldest sons to egypt. this was most likely to negotiate with the gabiniani and recruit them as soldiers in the desperate defense of syria against the parthians. however, the gabiniani tortured and murdered them, perhaps with secret encouragement by rogue senior administrators in cleopatra's court such as the eunuch regent potheinos. this led her to send the gabiniani culprits to bibulus as prisoners awaiting his judgment. although a seemingly shrewd act by the young queen, bibulus sent the prisoners back to her and chastised her for interfering in roman affairs that should have been handled directly by the roman senate. bibulus, siding with pompey the great in caesar's civil war, was then charged with preventing caesar from landing a naval fleet in greece. he failed at the task which ultimately allowed julius caesar to reach egypt in pursuit of pompey.