Lucius Aemilius Paullus
Lucius Aemilius Paullus was a prominent Roman general and politician hailing from the influential Aemilii family, recognized for his leadership during the Roman Republic. He served as consul in 219 B.C.E. and played a significant role in the Second Illyrian War, where he achieved victory against Demetrius of Pharos. Paullus was instrumental in the Roman delegation to Carthage in 218 B.C.E., which ultimately led to the declaration of the Second Punic War against Hannibal. He is most notably remembered for his command during the Battle of Cannae in 216 B.C.E., where he tragically lost his life alongside a significant portion of the Roman army.
His death marked a turning point for the Aemilii family, as their political influence waned in the aftermath of the battle. The subsequent dominance of the Fabian family and their strategy of prolonged engagement ultimately contributed to Hannibal's defeat. Despite the challenges faced by his family, Paullus's legacy continued through his descendants, including his son, who achieved victory at the Battle of Pydna in 168 B.C.E., and his daughter, who married the famous general Scipio Africanus. Overall, Paullus is remembered as a key figure in Roman military history whose actions may have altered the course of the Second Punic War.
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Lucius Aemilius Paullus
Related civilization: Republican Rome
Major role/position: Political/military leader
Life
Lucius Aemilius Paullus (LEW-shee-uhs ih-mihl-ee-AY-uhs PAWL-uhs) was the leader of the Aemilii, one of the leading patrician families in Rome. He was consul in 219 b.c.e., defeating Demetrius of Pharos in the second of the Illyrian Wars. In 218 b.c.e., he took part in the Roman delegation to Carthage that declared war. Paullus and his allies in the senate helped engineer the declaration (though they were unable to force Rome to attack immediately) and governed Roman strategy and tactics during the early course of the war.
Paullus is best known for his role in the Battle of Cannae in 216 b.c.e. As consul, he was one of the commanders of the huge Roman army assembled to crush Hannibal. He commanded part of the infantry and died with them. The fortunes of the Aemilii family fell with Paullus. The number of Aemilii who held political office fell sharply in the years following Cannae. The Fabian family and its strategy of delay dominated Rome and led to Hannibal’s eventual defeat.
Influence
Paullus was a powerful political leader in Rome and an outstanding general. If Rome had attacked Hannibal immediately as Paullus had desired, the Second Punic War may have ended much sooner than it did and resulted in many fewer Roman deaths. His son Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus defeated Perseus at the Battle of Pydna in 168 b.c.e. His daughter married Scipio Africanus.
Bibliography
Plutarch. Roman Lives. Translated by Robin Waterfield. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
Scullard, H. H. Roman Politics, 220-150 b.c. 2d ed. Oxford, England: Clarendon Press, 1973.