Mamercus Aemilius Lepidus Livianus
Encyclopedia
Mamercus Aemilius Lepidus Livianus, (died ca. 62 BC
) was a Roman politician and military commander who was consul
in 77 BC
.
politics. A member of the aristocratic party, brother of the tribune Marcus Livius Drusus
and son of Marcus Livius Drusus, he was adopted into the Aemilii Lepidi. His influence was such that he was able to intercede with Lucius Cornelius Sulla
on the young Julius Caesar
's behalf, geting Sulla to spare Caesar's life. He was also married to Cornelia Sulla, Sulla's daughter.
Around 91 BC
he succeeded his brother Marcus Livius Drusus as one of the pontifices
in the College of Pontiffs
. He served with distinction in the Social War (91–88 BC), probably serving as legate
under Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius
. He achieved some victories, most notably he was credited with killing the general of the Marsi
, Quintus Poppaedius Silo, during the storming of Venusia.
Although having failed once to be elected praetor
, he tried again, achieving the office by 81 BC
. He ran for the office of consul in 77 BC
, achieving it only after Gaius Scribonius Curio
withdrew his candidature for that year in favor of Livianus. Although during his term as consul he commanded a considerable number of military forces, there is no evidence that he obtained a provincial command after his term was concluded.
Following his term as consul he was probably a promagistrate
serving under Marcus Antonius Creticus
in 74 BC
, who had been given an extraordinary commission to clear the Mediterranean Sea
of the Ligurian pirates. By 70 BC
, he may have been Princeps Senatus
, although the evidence is inconclusive. He was called as a hostile witness against Gaius Cornelius in 65 BC
, as part of the events surrounding the First Catilinarian Conspiracy
.
Lepidus Livianus appears in Colleen McCullough
's novel The Grass Crown
and its sequels.
62 BC
Year 62 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Silanus and Murena...
) was a Roman politician and military commander who was consul
Roman consul
A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
in 77 BC
77 BC
Year 77 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Brutus and Lepidus...
.
Biography
Livianus was a well connected and influential figure in Late RepublicanRoman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
politics. A member of the aristocratic party, brother of the tribune Marcus Livius Drusus
Marcus Livius Drusus (tribune)
The younger Marcus Livius Drusus, son of Marcus Livius Drusus, was tribune of the plebeians in 91 BC. In the manner of Gaius Gracchus, he set out with comprehensive plans, but his aim was to strengthen senatorial rule...
and son of Marcus Livius Drusus, he was adopted into the Aemilii Lepidi. His influence was such that he was able to intercede with Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Lucius Cornelius Sulla
Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix , known commonly as Sulla, was a Roman general and statesman. He had the rare distinction of holding the office of consul twice, as well as that of dictator...
on the young Julius Caesar
Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
's behalf, geting Sulla to spare Caesar's life. He was also married to Cornelia Sulla, Sulla's daughter.
Around 91 BC
91 BC
Year 91 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Philippus and Caesar...
he succeeded his brother Marcus Livius Drusus as one of the pontifices
Pontifex
PONTIFEX was a mid-1980s project that introduced a novel approach to complex aircraft fleet scheduling, partially funded by the European Commission’s Strategic Programme for R&D in Information Technology.Since the mathematical problems stemming from non trivial fleet scheduling easily become...
in the College of Pontiffs
College of Pontiffs
The College of Pontiffs or Collegium Pontificum was a body of the ancient Roman state whose members were the highest-ranking priests of the polytheistic state religion. The college consisted of the Pontifex Maximus, the Vestal Virgins, the Rex Sacrorum, and the flamines...
. He served with distinction in the Social War (91–88 BC), probably serving as legate
Legatus
A legatus was a general in the Roman army, equivalent to a modern general officer. Being of senatorial rank, his immediate superior was the dux, and he outranked all military tribunes...
under Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius
Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius was a pro-Sullan politician and general. He was named Pius because of his 99 BC petition to return his father from exile and was true to his cognomen for the constance and inflexibility with which he always fought for his father's rehabilitation and return to...
. He achieved some victories, most notably he was credited with killing the general of the Marsi
Marsi
Marsi is the Latin exonym for a people of ancient Italy, whose chief centre was Marruvium, on the eastern shore of Lake Fucinus, drained for agricultural land in the late 19th century. The area in which they lived is now called Marsica. During the Roman Republic the people of the region spoke a...
, Quintus Poppaedius Silo, during the storming of Venusia.
Although having failed once to be elected praetor
Praetor
Praetor was a title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to men acting in one of two official capacities: the commander of an army, usually in the field, or the named commander before mustering the army; and an elected magistratus assigned varied duties...
, he tried again, achieving the office by 81 BC
81 BC
Year 81 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Decula and Dolabella...
. He ran for the office of consul in 77 BC
77 BC
Year 77 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Brutus and Lepidus...
, achieving it only after Gaius Scribonius Curio
Gaius Scribonius Curio
Gaius Scribonius Curio was the name of a father and son who lived in the late Roman Republic.-Father:Gaius Scribonius Curio was a Roman statesman and orator. He was nicknamed Burbulieus for the way he moved his body while speaking...
withdrew his candidature for that year in favor of Livianus. Although during his term as consul he commanded a considerable number of military forces, there is no evidence that he obtained a provincial command after his term was concluded.
Following his term as consul he was probably a promagistrate
Promagistrate
A promagistrate is a person who acts in and with the authority and capacity of a magistrate, but without holding a magisterial office. A legal innovation of the Roman Republic, the promagistracy was invented in order to provide Rome with governors of overseas territories instead of having to elect...
serving under Marcus Antonius Creticus
Marcus Antonius Creticus
Marcus Antonius Creticus was a Roman politician, member of the Antonius family. Creticus was son of Marcus Antonius Orator and by his marriage to Julia Antonia he had three sons: Triumvir Marcus Antonius, Gaius Antonius and Lucius Antonius.He was elected praetor in 74 BC and received an...
in 74 BC
74 BC
Year 74 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Lucullus and Cotta...
, who had been given an extraordinary commission to clear the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
of the Ligurian pirates. By 70 BC
70 BC
Year 70 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Magnus and Dives...
, he may have been Princeps Senatus
Princeps senatus
The princeps senatus was the first member by precedence of the Roman Senate. Although officially out of the cursus honorum and owning no imperium, this office brought enormous prestige to the senator holding it.-Overview:...
, although the evidence is inconclusive. He was called as a hostile witness against Gaius Cornelius in 65 BC
65 BC
Year 65 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Cotta and Torquatus...
, as part of the events surrounding the First Catilinarian Conspiracy
Catiline
Lucius Sergius Catilina , known in English as Catiline, was a Roman politician of the 1st century BC who is best known for the Catiline conspiracy, an attempt to overthrow the Roman Republic, and in particular the power of the aristocratic Senate.-Family background:Catiline was born in 108 BC to...
.
Lepidus Livianus appears in Colleen McCullough
Colleen McCullough
Colleen McCullough-Robinson, , is an internationally acclaimed Australian author.-Life:McCullough was born in Wellington, in outback central west New South Wales, in 1937 to James and Laurie McCullough. Her mother was a New Zealander of part-Māori descent. During her childhood, her family moved...
's novel The Grass Crown
The Grass Crown (novel)
The Grass Crown is the second historical novel in Colleen McCullough's Masters of Rome series.The novel opens shortly after the action of The First Man in Rome...
and its sequels.
Sources
- T. Robert S. BroughtonThomas Robert Shannon BroughtonThomas Robert Shannon Broughton was a Canadian classical scholar and leading Latin prosopographer of the twentieth century. He is especially noted for his definitive three-volume work, Magistrates of the Roman Republic ....
, The Magistrates of the Roman Republic, Vol II (1952). - Anthon, Charles & Smith, William, A New Classical Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography, Mythology and Geography (1860).