according to both plutarch's and caesar's account, pompey was reassured by the presence of septimius, whom he knew from earlier campaigns. but it was septimius who led the attack by stabbing pompey in the back, then salvius and achillas joined in. septimius then beheaded the corpse and removed pompey's signet ring. the killing did not placate caesar and in the ensuing war the gabiniani sided with cleopatra's brother ptolemy xiii, against caesar and cleopatra. the fate of septimius is not recorded.