Beginning in the summer of 54 BC, a wave of political corruption and violence swept Rome. This chaos reached a climax in January of 52 BC, when Clodius was murdered in a gang war by Milo. On 1 January 49 BC, an agent of Caesar presented an ultimatum to the senate. The ultimatum was rejected, and the senate then passed a resolution which declared that if Caesar did not lay down his arms by July of that year, he would be considered an enemy of the Republic. Meanwhile, the senators adopted <answer>Pompey</answer> as their new champion against Caesar. On 7 January of 49 BC, the senate passed a senatus consultum ultimum, which vested <answer>Pompey</answer> with dictatorial powers. <answer>Pompey</answer>'s army, however, was composed largely of untested conscripts. On 10 January, Caesar crossed the Rubicon with his veteran army (in violation of Roman laws) and marched towards Rome. Caesar's rapid advance forced <answer>Pompey</answer>, the consuls and the senate to abandon Rome for Greece. Caesar entered the city unopposed.
Who did the senators decide would aid them in their conflict with Caesar?
Pompey