Gens Aemilia
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History
Gens Aemilia was one of the most ancient Patrician Gens in Roma Antiqua. Its origin is referred to the time of King Numa, and it is said to have been descended from Mamercus, who received the name of Aemilius on account of the persuasiveness of his language. This Marmecus is represented by some as son of Pythagoras, and by others as son of Numa, while a third account traces his origin to Ascanius, who had two sons, Iulius (founder of the Gens Iulia) and Aemylos.[1]
The first Consul from the Gens Aemilia was Lucius Aemilius Mamercus, which was Consul for a total of three times, in the years of CCLXX a.u.c. (484 BCE), CCLXXVI a.u.c. (478 BCE) and CCLXXXI a.u.c. (473 BCE).[2]
Cognomina
The Cognomina used by the Gens Aemilia were
- Barbula
- Buca
- Lepidus
- Mamercus or Mamercinus
- Papus
- Paullus or Paulus
- Regillus
- Scaurus
Prominent Aemilii
Among the prominent Aemilii there are:
- Lucius Aemilius Paullus
- Consul in the year DXXXV a.u.c. (219 BCE) and was sent against the Illyrians, who had risen to arms again under Demetrius in the island of Pharos. For his victory obtained a triumph. Consul again in DXXXVIII a.u.c. (216 BCE), the year of the battle of Cannae. The battle was fought against the advice of Aemilius and he was one of the many distinguished Romans that perished in the engagement, refusing to fly from the field when a Tribune of the soldiers offered him his horse.
- Marcus Aemilius Scaurus
Gens Aemilia in Nova Roma
To see information about the Gens Aemilia in Nova Roma see Gens Aemilia (Nova Roma)
