Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (c. 30 BC – 33 AD) was a
patrician
Patrician may refer to:
* Patrician (ancient Rome), the original aristocratic families of ancient Rome, and a synonym for "aristocratic" in modern English usage
* Patrician (post-Roman Europe), the governing elites of cities in parts of medieval ...
Roman senator
The Roman Senate ( la, Senātus Rōmānus) was a governing and advisory assembly in ancient Rome. It was one of the most enduring institutions in Roman history, being established in the first days of the city of Rome (traditionally founded in ...
, politician and general, praised by the historian
Tacitus
Publius Cornelius Tacitus, known simply as Tacitus ( , ; – ), was a Roman historian and politician. Tacitus is widely regarded as one of the greatest Roman historians by modern scholars.
The surviving portions of his two major works—the ...
.
Origin and early career
Lepidus was the son of
Cornelia and
Paullus Aemilius Lepidus
Paullus Aemilius LepidusLightman, ''A to Z of Ancient Greek and Roman Women'', p. 205 (c. 77 BC – after 11 BC) was a Roman senator.
Biography
He was a grandson of Marcus Aemilius Lepidus and Appuleia through their son Lucius Aemilius Pa ...
(who served as a
censor) and brother-in-law to
Augustus
Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pr ...
' granddaughter
Julia the Younger, who was married to his brother
Lucius Aemilius Paullus, consul in 1 AD. Thus, he was a member of one of the oldest
patrician
Patrician may refer to:
* Patrician (ancient Rome), the original aristocratic families of ancient Rome, and a synonym for "aristocratic" in modern English usage
* Patrician (post-Roman Europe), the governing elites of cities in parts of medieval ...
families, the
Aemilii
The gens Aemilia, originally written Aimilia, was one of the greatest patrician families at ancient Rome. The gens was of great antiquity, and claimed descent from Numa Pompilius, the second King of Rome. Its members held the highest offices o ...
.
He became
consul
Consul (abbrev. ''cos.''; Latin plural ''consules'') was the title of one of the two chief magistrates of the Roman Republic, and subsequently also an important title under the Roman Empire. The title was used in other European city-states throu ...
in 6 AD. He then distinguished himself as legate in charge of an army during the
Illyrian War
The Illyro-Roman Wars were a series of wars fought between the Roman Republic and the Ardiaei kingdom. In the ''First Illyrian War'', which lasted from 229 BC to 228 BC, Rome's concern was that the trade across the Adriatic Sea increased after the ...
(6 – 9 AD) under the command of
Tiberius
Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus (; 16 November 42 BC – 16 March AD 37) was the second Roman emperor. He reigned from AD 14 until 37, succeeding his stepfather, the first Roman emperor Augustus. Tiberius was born in Rome in 42 BC. His father ...
, the later emperor. After the end of the war he served as governor either of
Dalmatia (modern day Croatia and Bosnia) or
Pannonia (modern day Hungary).
At the time of
Augustus
Caesar Augustus (born Gaius Octavius; 23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14), also known as Octavian, was the first Roman emperor; he reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. He is known for being the founder of the Roman Pr ...
' death, in 14 AD, he was governor of Northern Spain in charge of an army of three legions. While there were serious riots in the armies in Germany and
Pannonia after Augustus' death, Lepidus' army gave no trouble.
Activities during the reign of Tiberius
Lepidus defended
Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso (a friend of Tiberius, but also a relative of Lepidus) at his trial for the alleged poisoning of
Germanicus.
In 21 AD, Tiberius offered him the governorship of
Africa Province
Africa Proconsularis was a Roman province on the northern African coast that was established in 146 BC following the defeat of Carthage in the Third Punic War. It roughly comprised the territory of present-day Tunisia, the northeast of Algeria, ...
. He rejected the offer, claiming ill-health and the demands of his children, but more likely he recognised the wisdom of leaving the position to
Quintus Junius Blaesus, uncle of
Lucius Aelius Sejanus, the powerful praetorian prefect. Although this may make Lepidus seem unduly subservient towards the emperor Tiberius and his powerful allies, Lepidus' activities in the senate show an independent mind. In 21 AD he made a strong speech against the death penalty for an irreverent poet. Nevertheless, the poet was executed by order of the senate. This allowed Tiberius to praise Lepidus' moderation (as well as the senate's zeal in persecuting any offence against the emperor).
Modern scholars have suggested that Lepidus also restored the Basilica Aemilia in the
Roman Forum in 22 AD and served as governor of
Asia
Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an are ...
in 26 AD. Apparently, Lepidus was one of the few aristocrats obtaining high positions (including command of large armies) in this troubled time without ever being accused of plotting against the emperor. Although in 32 AD an important senator,
Cotta Messalinus, openly attacked him because of his excessive influence in the senate, this accusation had no consequences. Lepidus died in 33 AD.
Tacitus
Publius Cornelius Tacitus, known simply as Tacitus ( , ; – ), was a Roman historian and politician. Tacitus is widely regarded as one of the greatest Roman historians by modern scholars.
The surviving portions of his two major works—the ...
described him as "wise and noble" for his actions as a senator. According to Tacitus his actions could be taken as an example for independent aristocrats living under tyranny.
Descendants
It is possible that Lepidus married
Vipsania Marcella, daughter of
Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and his second wife
Claudia Marcella Major (niece of emperor Augustus).
If so, then a son of hers is identified from a dedication inscription in the ''
basilica Aemilia
The Basilica Aemilia ( it, Basilica Emilia, links=no) was a civil basilica in the Roman Forum, in Rome, Italy. Today only the plan and some rebuilt elements can be seen. The Basilica was 100 meters (328 ft) long and about 30 meters (98&nbs ...
''.
His daughter
Aemilia Lepida married
Drusus Caesar, a son of
Germanicus and
Agrippina the Elder
Agrippina "the Elder" (also, in Latin, , "Germanicus's Agrippina"; – AD 33) was a prominent member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. She was the daughter of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa (a close supporter of the first Roman emperor, Augustus) a ...
. Although it is uncertain, some historians believe that he was also father to the
Marcus Aemilius Lepidus who became
Caligula's lover and brother-in-law, as husband to Julia Drusilla.
[Barrett, pp. 106-107.]
Notes
References
*Tacitus: Annals
*Syme Ronald: The Augustan Aristocracy. Oxford University Press 1986
External links
The text of Tacitus' Annals: At Project Gutenberg
{{DEFAULTSORT:Aemilius Lepidus, Marcus
30s BC births
33 deaths
Year of birth uncertain
Lepidus, Marcus
Julio-Claudian dynasty
Imperial Roman consuls
Roman governors of Asia
1st-century BC Romans
Lepidus
Roman governors of Pannonia
Roman governors of Dalmatia