Lucius Aemilius Paullus (consul 219 BC)

For other people with the same name, see Lucius Aemilius Paullus.

Lucius Aemilius M.f.M.n. Paullus (died 2 August 216 BC), also spelled Paulus, was a consul of the Roman Republic twice, in 219 and 216 BC. He is primarily remembered for being one of the commanders of the Roman army at the Battle of Cannae, and for his death in the same battle.

Lucius Aemilius Paullus
The Death of Paulus Aemilius at the Battle of Cannae by John Trumbull
Roman consul
In office 15 March 216 BC – 2 August 216 BC Serving with Gaius Terentius Varro
Preceded by	Gnaeus Servilius Geminus Marcus Atilius Regulus
Succeeded by	Gaius Terentius Varro (remaining term)
In office 15 March 219 BC – 14 March 218 BC Serving with Marcus Livius Salinator
Preceded by	Gaius Lutatius Catulus Lucius Veturius Philo
Succeeded by	Publius Cornelius Scipio Tiberius Sempronius Longus
Personal details
Died	2 August 216 BC Cannae, Roman Republic
Cause of death	Killed in action (missiles)
Nationality	Roman
Children	Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus Aemilia Prima Aemilia Secunda Aemilia Tertia
Military service
Allegiance	Roman Republic
Battles/wars	Second Illyrian War Second Punic War Battle of Cannae  †

Biography

Lucius Aemilius Paullus was the son of Marcus Aemilius Paullus, the consul of 255 BC. Paullus shared his first consulship with Marcus Livius Salinator.^[1] 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 Macedon.^[2] On his return to Rome, he was awarded a triumph. He was subsequently charged, along with his colleague, with unfairly dividing the spoils, although he was acquitted.^[1][3]

During the Second Punic War, Paullus was made consul a second time and served with Gaius Terentius Varro. He shared the command of the army with Varro at the Battle of Cannae. Varro led out the troops against the advice of Paullus and the battle became a crushing defeat for the Romans.^[4][5] Paullus died in the battle, while Varro managed to escape.^[6]

In Silius Italicus' epic poem Punica, Paullus is described as killing the Carthaginian commander Viriathus prior to his own death.^[7]

Paullus was the father of Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus. His daughter, Aemilia Tertia, married Scipio Africanus, the Roman commander who defeated Hannibal.^[8][9][10] He was the grandfather of Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus, the Roman commander who destroyed Carthage.

See also

• Scipio-Paullus-Gracchus family tree