Aemilius Paulus

Also known as: Aemilius / Paulus / Paulus Aemilius · Family: Roman · Role: consul · First appears: Fabius

At Cannae, Fabius Maximus urged Aemilius Paulus to oppose both Varro’s eagerness and Hannibal’s readiness, and Paulus declared, “I will rather seek in my conduct to please and obey Fabius than all the world besides.” When defeat came, Cornelius Lentulus offered him a horse and urged him to save himself, but Paulus refused escape and, after sending Lentulus away, threw himself onto the enemy’s swords.

Paulus divorced his first wife, Papiria, though she had borne him noble children, including Scipio and Fabius Maximus, and later married a second wife, by whom he had two sons. His daughters included Aemilia, while another was married to Aelius Tubero; he was also the father-in-law of Marcus, son of Cato. He defeated the Ligurians and forced them into their walled towns, served as consul, and was later joined in command by Cnaeus Octavius.

Chosen unanimously for a second consulship, Paulus received command of the Macedonian war against Perseus. He defeated Perseus, and in two days the Macedonians submitted to him. Though Servius Galba, a tribune under his command, was his enemy, Paulus received a triumph decreed by all the Roman tribes, after losing one son five days before it and another three days afterward. Upon returning to Rome, he suddenly fell into delirium and died three days later, while maintaining his noble composure through the loss of his two sons.