Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus

Information about Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus

This article is about the general who won the Battle of Pydna in 167 BC. For other men with this name, see Lucius Aemilius Paullus (disambiguation).


Lucius Aemilius Paulus Macedonicus (229 BC-160 BC) was a Roman general and politician.

Family

His father was Lucius Aemilius Paullus, the consul defeated and killed in the battle of Cannae. Lucius Aemilius was, in his time, the head of his branch of the Aemilii Pauli, an old and aristocratic patrician family. Their influence was immense, particularly due to their fortune and alliance with the Cornelii Scipiones.

Early career

After the fulfilment of his military service, and being elected military tribune, Paullus was elected curule aedile in 193 BC. The next step of his cursus honorum was the election as praetor in 191 BC. At the term of this office he went to the Hispania provinces, where he campaigned against the Lusitanians between 191 and 189 BC. However, he failed to be elected consul for several years. Paullus was elected consul for the first time in 182 BC, with Gnaeus Baebius Tamphilus as junior partner. His next military command, with proconsular imperium, was in the next year, against the Ingauni of Liguria.

Paullus and Macedonia

The Third Macedonian War broke out in 171 BC, when king Perseus of Macedon defeated a Roman army led by the consul Publius Licinius Crassus in the battle of Callicinus. After two years of indecisive results for both sides, Paulus was elected consul again in 168 BC (with Gaius Licinius Crassus as colleague). As consul, he was appointed by the senate to deal with the Macedonian war. Shortly afterwards, in June 22, he won the decisive battle of Pydna. Perseus of Macedonia was made prisoner and the Third Macedonian War ended.

To set an example, Paulus ordered the killing of 500 Macedonians known for opposition against Rome. He also exiled many more to Italy and confiscated their belongings in the name of Rome but according to Plutarch, keeping too much to himself. On the return to Rome in 167 BC, his legions were displeased with their share of the plunder. To keep them happy, Paulus decided for a stop in Epirus, a kingdom suspected of sympathizing with the Macedonian cause. The region had been already pacified, but Paulus ordered the sacking of 70 of its towns. 150,000 people were enslaved and the region was left to bankruptcy.

Paulus' return to Rome was glorious. With the immense plunder collected in Macedonia and Epirus, he celebrated a spectacular triumph, featuring no less than the captured king of Macedonia himself. As a gesture of acknowledgment, the senate awarded him the surname Macedonicus. This was the peak of his career. In 164 BC he was elected censor. He fell ill, appeared to be recovering, but relapsed within three days and died during his term in 160 BC.

Aemilius Paulus on military strategy

He is credited by Livy with a remarkable soliloquy regarding the intervention of political leaders in military matters:

"In every circle, and truly, at every table, there are people who lead armies into Macedonia; who know where the camp ought to be placed; what posts ought to be occupied by troops; when and through what pass that territory should be entered; where magazines should be formed; how provisions should be conveyed by land and sea; and when it is proper to engage the enemy, when to lie quiet and they not only determine what is best to be done, but if any thing is done in any other manner than what they have pointed out, they arraign the consul, as if he were on trial before them. These are great impediments to those who have the management of affairs; for every one cannot encounter injurious reports with the same constancy and firmness of mind as Fabius did, who chose to let his own ability be questioned through the folly of the people, rather than to mismanage the public business with a high reputation. I am not one of those who think that commanders ought at no time to receive advice; on the contrary, I should deem that man more proud than wise, who regulated every proceeding by the standard of his own single judgement. What then is my opinion? That commanders should be counselled, chiefly, by persons of known talent; by those who have made the art of war their particular study, and whose knowledge is derived from experience; from those who are present at the scene of action, who see the country, who see the enemy; who see the advantage that occasions offer, and who, like people embarked in the same ship, are sharers of the danger. If, therefore, any one thinks himself qualified to give advice respecting the war which I am to conduct, which may prove advantageous to the public, let him not refuse his assistance to the state, but let him come with me into Macedonia. He shall be furnished with a ship, a horse, a tent; even his traveling charges shall be defrayed. But if he thinks this too much trouble, and prefers the repose of a city life to the toils of war, let him not, on land, assume the office of a pilot. The city, in itself, furnishes abundance of topics for conversation; let it confine its passion for talking within its own precincts, and rest assured that we shall pay no attention to any councils but such as shall be framed within our camp."


Livy, "History of Rome", book 44, chapter 22.—Livy, trans. Alfred C. Schlesinger, vol. 13, p. 161 (1951).

Family life and descendants

His father Lucius Aemilius Paullus died in battle in 216 BC in the Battle of Cannae, while Aemilius Paullus must have been a very young man. The Aemilii Paulli were connected by marriage and political interests to the Scipios, but their role in his subsequent upbringing is not clear.

He had been married first to Papiria Masonis (or Papiria Masonia), daughter of the consul Gaius Papirius Maso (consul in 231 BC), whom he divorced, according to Plutarch, for no particular reason. From this marriage, four children were born: two sons and two daughters, the elder Aemilia Paulla Prima apparently married[1] to the son of Marcus Porcius Cato, and the younger Aemilia Paulla Secunda to Aelius Tubero, a rich man of a plebeian family. He divorced his wife while his younger son was still a baby, according to Roman historians; thus the divorce probably took place around 183 BC-182 BC. Nevertheless, he was elected consul in 182 BC.

Paulus Macedonicus then married a second time (this wife's name is unknown) and had two more sons, the elder born around 181 BC and the younger born around 176 BC. He also apparently had another daughter (Aemilia Tertia), who was a small girl when her father was chosen consul for the second time.[2]

Since four boys were too many for a father to support across the cursus honorum, Paulus decided to give the oldest two boys up for adoption, probably between 175 BC and 170 BC. The elder was taken by a Quintus Fabius Maximus and became Quintus Fabius Maximus Aemilianus, thus joining his fortunes to the house of a national hero. The younger, possibly named Lucius, was adopted by his own cousin[3] Publius Cornelius Scipio, elder son and heir of Scipio Africanus, and became Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus, thus falling heir to the legacy of Rome's most influential political dynasty.

With the eldest sons safely adopted by two of the most powerful patrician houses, Paulus Macedonicus counted on the two younger ones to continue his own name. This was not due to happen. Both of them died young, one shortly after the other, at the same time that Paulus celebrated his Triumph. The elder of the two remaining sons was 14 and the younger 9, according to Polybius. Their names are unknown to us. The successes of his political and military career were thus not accompanied by a happy family life.

At his death, his sons Quintus Fabius Maximus Aemilianus and Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Aemilianus received his property by his will, even though they were legally no longer Aemilii Paulli; Scipio gave his share to his older brother who was less wealthy. Paulus's second wife (whose name is unknown to us) received her dowry back from the sale of some of her late husband's property. (Livy and Polybius both claim that Paulus died relatively poor, and that he had kept little for himself from the successful Macedonian campaign). His married daughters had presumably received dowries from their father; Aemilia Paulla Prima is known to have married in or around 164 BC.

With the death of Macedonicus, the Aemilii Paulii became extinct, even though he had two living sons. His elder surviving son Fabius Aemilianus eventually became consul and fathered at least one son, who in turn became consul as Fabius Allobrigicus in 121 BC. This man, in turn, may have been the ancestor of later Fabii who tied their fortunes to Julius Caesar and Augustus.[4] The younger surviving son was more famous as Scipio Aemilianus but died leaving no known issue. Of the daughters, the elder was ancestor of at least two consuls of no particular distinction. The younger was mother of a consul Quintus Aelius Tubero.

His first and former wife Papiria Masonia survived her ex-husband and lived to enjoy her former sister-in-law's property presented to her by her younger son (per Polybius). At her death, her property was divided between her sons, but Scipio gave it to his sisters.

Paulus's immediate surviving descendants

  1. Quintus Fabius Maximus Aemilianus, apparently father of
  2. Quintus Fabius Maximus Allobrogicus
  3. Scipio Aemilianus (died 129 BC)
  4. Aemilia Paulla Prima, mother of
  5. Gaius Porcius Cato
  6. Aemilia Paulla Secunda, mother of
  7. Quintus Aelius Tubero, consul 117 BC

See also

References

 •  • [ e]
The Works of Plutarch
The WorksParallel Lives The Moralia Pseudo-Plutarch
The Lives
The TranslatorsJohn Dryden Thomas North Jacques Amyot Philemon Holland Arthur Hugh Clough
1 Comparison extant 2 Four unpaired Lives



Preceded by
Quintus Fabius Labeo and Marcus Claudius Marcellus		Consul of the Roman Republic
with Gnaeus Baebius Tamphilus
182 BC		Succeeded by
Publius Cornelius Cethegus and Marcus Baebius Tamphilus
Preceded by
Quintus Marcius Philippus and Gnaeus Servilius Caepio		Consul of the Roman Republic
with Gaius Licinius Crassus
168 BC		Succeeded by
Quintus Aelius Paetus and Marcus Junius Pennus




References

1. ^ There is some confusion about her name, because some sources claim that she was another Aemilia Tertia. However, she could not have been the Aemilia Tertia described as a small child or a little girl in 167 BC; she would have been too young to marry in 164 BC. Furthermore, it is known that the younger Cato was married to Scipio Aemilianus's full sister because Aemilianus gave his sisters his share of his mother's property.
2. ^ Aemilia Tertia's fate is unknown. It is known that her older sisters married, and that her full brothers died in 167 BC. She may have died by 160 BC because Polybius makes no further reference to her. Nor do any Roman historians mention any other brother-in-law of Scipio Aemilianus.
3. ^ Publius Cornelius Scipio the younger was a flamen dialis and later a praetor, whose ill-health prevented him from pursuing a military career. His mother was Aemilia Paulla or Aemilia Tertia, the sister of Paulus.
4. ^ These would include the consul of 45 BC and the consuls Paullus Fabius Maximus and Africanus Fabius Maximus.
Battle of Pydna in 168 BC between Rome and the Antigonid dynasty represents the start of the true power of Rome and the end of the Antigonid line of kings, whose power traced back to Alexander III of Macedon.
..... Click the link for more information.
2nd century BC - 1st century BC
190s BC  180s BC  170s BC - 160s BC - 150s BC  140s BC  130s BC 
170 BC 169 BC 168 BC - 167 BC - 166 BC 165 BC 164 BC

Politics
State leaders - Sovereign states

..... Click the link for more information.
There have been several people named Lucius Aemilius Paul(l)us:
  • Lucius Aemilius Paullus (consul 219 BC)
  • Lucius Aemilius Paulus Macedonicus, his son
  • Lucius Aemilius Lepidus Paullus, consul in 50 BC

..... Click the link for more information.
3rd century BC - 2nd century BC
250s BC  240s BC  230s BC - 220s BC - 210s BC  200s BC  190s BC 
232 BC 231 BC 230 BC - 229 BC - 228 BC 227 BC 226 BC

Politics
State leaders - Sovereign states

..... Click the link for more information.
2nd century BC - 1st century BC
190s BC  180s BC  170s BC - 160s BC - 150s BC  140s BC  130s BC 
163 BC 162 BC 161 BC - 160 BC - 159 BC 158 BC 157 BC

Politics
State leaders - Sovereign states

..... Click the link for more information.
Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea.
..... Click the link for more information.
Lucius Aemilius Paullus (d. 216 BC) was a Roman consul twice, in 219 and 216 BC.

He served his first consulship with Marcus Livius Salinator. During this year, he defeated Demetrius of Pharos, in the Second Illyrian War and forced him to flee to the court of Philip V of
..... Click the link for more information.
Battle of Cannae was a major battle of the Second Punic War, taking place on August 2, 216 BC near the town of Cannae in Apulia in southeast Italy. The Carthaginian army under Hannibal decisively defeated a numerically superior Roman army under command of the consuls Lucius
..... Click the link for more information.
patrician" originally referred to a group of elite families in ancient Rome, including both their natural and adopted members. In the late Roman empire, the class was broadened to include high court officials.
..... Click the link for more information.
Scipio (plural, Scipiones) is a Roman cognomen representing the Cornelii Scipiones, a branch of the Cornelii family. (See other meanings, below, derived from this family.
..... Click the link for more information.
For other uses, see Tribune (disambiguation).


Tribune (from the Latin: tribunus; Greek form tribounos) was a title shared by 2–3 elected magistracies and other governmental and/or (para)military offices of the Roman Republic
..... Click the link for more information.
Aedile (Latin Aedilis, from aedes, aedis "temple," "building") was an office of the Roman Republic. Based in Rome, the aediles were responsible for maintenance of public buildings and regulation of public festivals.
..... Click the link for more information.
2nd century BC - 1st century BC
220s BC  210s BC  200s BC - 190s BC - 180s BC  170s BC  160s BC 
196 BC 195 BC 194 BC - 193 BC - 192 BC 191 BC 190 BC

Politics
State leaders - Sovereign states

..... Click the link for more information.
The cursus honorum (Latin: "course of honours") was the sequential order of public offices held by aspiring politicians in both the Roman Republic and the early Empire. It was designed for men of senatorial rank.
..... Click the link for more information.
Praetor was a title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to men acting in one of two official capacities: the commander of an army, either before it was mustered or more typically in the field, or an elected magistrate assigned duties that varied depending on the
..... Click the link for more information.
2nd century BC - 1st century BC
220s BC  210s BC  200s BC - 190s BC - 180s BC  170s BC  160s BC 
194 BC 193 BC 192 BC - 191 BC - 190 BC 189 BC 188 BC

Politics
State leaders - Sovereign states

..... Click the link for more information.
Lusitania was an ancient Roman province approximately including all of modern Portugal south of the Douro river, and part of modern Spain (the present autonomous community of Extremadura and a small part of the province of Salamanca).
..... Click the link for more information.
2nd century BC - 1st century BC
220s BC  210s BC  200s BC - 190s BC - 180s BC  170s BC  160s BC 
194 BC 193 BC 192 BC - 191 BC - 190 BC 189 BC 188 BC

Politics
State leaders - Sovereign states

..... Click the link for more information.
2nd century BC - 1st century BC
210s BC  200s BC  190s BC - 180s BC - 170s BC  160s BC  150s BC 
192 BC 191 BC 190 BC - 189 BC - 188 BC 187 BC 186 BC

Politics
State leaders - Sovereign states

..... Click the link for more information.
Consul (abbrev. cos.; Latin plural consules) was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states, and revived in modern states, notably Republican France before the Napoleonic
..... Click the link for more information.
Consul (abbrev. cos.; Latin plural consules) was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states, and revived in modern states, notably Republican France before the Napoleonic
..... Click the link for more information.
2nd century BC - 1st century BC
210s BC  200s BC  190s BC - 180s BC - 170s BC  160s BC  150s BC 
185 BC 184 BC 183 BC - 182 BC - 181 BC 180 BC 179 BC

Politics
State leaders - Sovereign states

..... Click the link for more information.
Imperium in a broad sense translates as power. In ancient Rome the concept applied to people, and meant something like "power status" or "authority", or could be used with a geographical connotation and meant something like "territory".
..... Click the link for more information.
Regione Liguria


Map highlighting the location of Liguria in Italy

Capital Genoa (Genova)
President Claudio Burlando
(DS-Union)
Provinces 4
Comuni 235
Area 5,420 km
 - Ranked 18th (1.8 %)
Population (2006 est.
..... Click the link for more information.
Third Macedonian War (171 BC - 168 BC) was a war fought between Rome and King Perseus of Macedon. In 179 BC King Philip V of Macedon died and his talented and ambitious son, Perseus, took his throne.
..... Click the link for more information.
2nd century BC - 1st century BC
200s BC  190s BC  180s BC - 170s BC - 160s BC  150s BC  140s BC 
174 BC 173 BC 172 BC - 171 BC - 170 BC 169 BC 168 BC

Politics
State leaders - Sovereign states

..... Click the link for more information.
Perseus (Greek Περσεύς) was the last king of the Antigonid dynasty, who ruled the successor state in Macedon created upon the death of Alexander the Great.
..... Click the link for more information.
Battle of Callicinus was fought in 171 BC between Macedon and Rome. The Macedonians were led by their king, Perseus, while the Roman force was led by Consul Publius Licinius Crassus. The Macedonians were victorious.
..... Click the link for more information.
2nd century BC - 1st century BC
190s BC  180s BC  170s BC - 160s BC - 150s BC  140s BC  130s BC 
171 BC 170 BC 169 BC - 168 BC - 167 BC 166 BC 165 BC

Politics
State leaders - Sovereign states

..... Click the link for more information.
The Roman Senate (Latin: Senatus) was the main governing council of both the Roman Republic, which started in 509 BC, and the Roman Empire. Although the West Roman Empire ended in the 5th century (in 476), the Roman Senate continued to meet until the latter part of the 6th
..... Click the link for more information.

This article is copied from an article on Wikipedia.org - the free encyclopedia created and edited by online user community. The text was not checked or edited by anyone on our staff. Although the vast majority of the wikipedia encyclopedia articles provide accurate and timely information please do not assume the accuracy of any particular article. This article is distributed under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License.