Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (consul AD 6)
Encyclopedia
Marcus Aemilius Lepidus (c. 30 BC-33 AD) was a Roman senator
, politician and general, praised by the historian Tacitus
.
and Lucius Aemilius Paullus (who served as a censor) and brother-in-law to Augustus
' granddaughter Julia the Younger
. Thus, he was a descendant of one of the oldest patrician families, the Aemilii.
He became consul
in 6 AD. He then distinguished himself as legate in charge of an army during the Illyrian War (6-9 AD) under the command of Tiberius
, the later emperor. After the end of the war he served as governor of Dalmatia
(modern day Croatia and Bosnia) or Pannonia
(modern day Hungary).
At the time of Augustus
' death, in 14 AD, he was governor of Northern Spain in charge of an army of three legions. Interestingly, while there were serious riots in the armies in Germany and Pannonia
after Augustus' death, Lepidus army gave no trouble.
reports that Augustus
on his deathbed, while discussing of possible Tiberius
’ rivals, described him as worthy of becoming emperor (capax imperii), but "disdainful" of supreme power. However, all evidences show that Marcus Lepidus maintained Tiberius
’ trust during all his life. He defended Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso
(a friend of Tiberius, but also a relative of Lepidus) at his trial for the alleged poisoning of Germanicus
.
In 21 AD, Tiberius offered him the governorship of Africa Province
. He rejected the offer, however, because of ill-health and his children, but more likely to leave the position to Quintus Junius Blaesus
, uncle of Lucius Aelius Sejanus
the powerful pretorian prefect. Although these episodes may seem a flattery towards the emperor Tiberius, Lepidus activities in the senate show an independent mind. In 21 AD he made a strong speech against the death penalty for an irreverent poet. Nevertheless, the poet was executed by order of the senate: this allowed Tiberius to praise Lepidus' moderation (as well as the senate's zeal in persecuting any offence against the emperor).
Modern scholars have suggested that Marcus Lepidus also restored the Basilica Aemilia in the Roman Forum
in 22 AD and served as governor of Asia in 26. Apparently, Lepidus was one of the few aristocrats obtaining high positions (including command of large armies) in this troubled time without ever being accused of plotting against the emperor. Although in 32 an important senator (Cotta Messalinus) openly attacked him because of his excessive influence in the senate, this accusation had no consequences. Lepidus died in 33 AD. Tacitus
described him as "wise and noble" for his actions as a senator. According to Tacitus his actions could be taken as an example for independent aristocrats living under tyranny.
married Drusus Caesar, a son of Germanicus
and Agrippina the Elder
. She committed suicide after being accused of adultery.
Although it is uncertain, some historians believe that he was also father to that Marcus Aemilius Lepidus who became Caligula
’s lover and brother-in-law, husband to Julia Drusilla, and about whom there were rumors that Caligula had indicated him as his successor. However, the younger Lepidus was probably involved in a conspiracy in 39 A.D., along with the emperor's sisters Agrippina the Younger
and Julia Livilla. Whether the conspiracy was real or not, Caligula so accused him and Lepidus was executed in the same year.
Roman Senate
The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
, politician and general, praised by the historian Tacitus
Tacitus
Publius Cornelius Tacitus was a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories—examine the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors...
.
Origin and early career
Lepidus was the son of Cornelia ScipioCornelia Scipio
Cornelia was the daughter of Scribonia and consul Publius Cornelius Scipio Salvito. She was married twice. Her first husband was Sextus Julius Caesar III. Together they had one son born in 32 BC, named Sextus Julius Caesar IV. Her second husband was the censor Lucius Aemilius Paullus, with whom...
and Lucius Aemilius Paullus (who served as a censor) and brother-in-law to Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
' granddaughter Julia the Younger
Julia the Younger
Julia the Younger or Julilla , Vipsania Julia Agrippina, Iulilla, Julia, Augustus' granddaughter, or Julia Caesaris Minor, was a Roman noblewoman of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. She was the first daughter and second child of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa and Julia the Elder...
. Thus, he was a descendant of one of the oldest patrician families, the Aemilii.
He became consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
in 6 AD. He then distinguished himself as legate in charge of an army during the Illyrian War (6-9 AD) under the command of Tiberius
Tiberius
Tiberius , was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian, son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian...
, the later emperor. After the end of the war he served as governor of Dalmatia
Dalmatia (Roman province)
Dalmatia was an ancient Roman province. Its name is probably derived from the name of an Illyrian tribe called the Dalmatae which lived in the area of the eastern Adriatic coast in Classical antiquity....
(modern day Croatia and Bosnia) or Pannonia
Pannonia
Pannonia was an ancient province of the Roman Empire bounded north and east by the Danube, coterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, and southward with Dalmatia and upper Moesia....
(modern day Hungary).
At the time of Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
' death, in 14 AD, he was governor of Northern Spain in charge of an army of three legions. Interestingly, while there were serious riots in the armies in Germany and Pannonia
Pannonia
Pannonia was an ancient province of the Roman Empire bounded north and east by the Danube, coterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, and southward with Dalmatia and upper Moesia....
after Augustus' death, Lepidus army gave no trouble.
Activities during the reign of Tiberius
TacitusTacitus
Publius Cornelius Tacitus was a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories—examine the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors...
reports that Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
on his deathbed, while discussing of possible Tiberius
Tiberius
Tiberius , was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian, son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian...
’ rivals, described him as worthy of becoming emperor (capax imperii), but "disdainful" of supreme power. However, all evidences show that Marcus Lepidus maintained Tiberius
Tiberius
Tiberius , was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian, son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian...
’ trust during all his life. He defended Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso
Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso
Gnaeus Calpurnius Piso , Roman statesman, was consul in 7 BC; subsequently, he was governor of Hispania and proconsul of Africa.In AD 17 Tiberius appointed him governor of Syria...
(a friend of Tiberius, but also a relative of Lepidus) at his trial for the alleged poisoning of Germanicus
Germanicus
Germanicus Julius Caesar , commonly known as Germanicus, was a member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty and a prominent general of the early Roman Empire. He was born in Rome, Italia, and was named either Nero Claudius Drusus after his father or Tiberius Claudius Nero after his uncle...
.
In 21 AD, Tiberius offered him the governorship of Africa Province
Africa Province
The Roman province of Africa was established after the Romans defeated Carthage in the Third Punic War. It roughly comprised the territory of present-day northern Tunisia, and the small Mediterranean coast of modern-day western Libya along the Syrtis Minor...
. He rejected the offer, however, because of ill-health and his children, but more likely to leave the position to Quintus Junius Blaesus
Junius Blaesus
Quintus Junius Blaesus was a Roman novus homo who lived during the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius...
, uncle of Lucius Aelius Sejanus
Sejanus
Lucius Aelius Seianus , commonly known as Sejanus, was an ambitious soldier, friend and confidant of the Roman Emperor Tiberius...
the powerful pretorian prefect. Although these episodes may seem a flattery towards the emperor Tiberius, Lepidus activities in the senate show an independent mind. In 21 AD he made a strong speech against the death penalty for an irreverent poet. Nevertheless, the poet was executed by order of the senate: this allowed Tiberius to praise Lepidus' moderation (as well as the senate's zeal in persecuting any offence against the emperor).
Modern scholars have suggested that Marcus Lepidus also restored the Basilica Aemilia in the Roman Forum
Roman Forum
The Roman Forum is a rectangular forum surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome. Citizens of the ancient city referred to this space, originally a marketplace, as the Forum Magnum, or simply the Forum...
in 22 AD and served as governor of Asia in 26. Apparently, Lepidus was one of the few aristocrats obtaining high positions (including command of large armies) in this troubled time without ever being accused of plotting against the emperor. Although in 32 an important senator (Cotta Messalinus) openly attacked him because of his excessive influence in the senate, this accusation had no consequences. Lepidus died in 33 AD. Tacitus
Tacitus
Publius Cornelius Tacitus was a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories—examine the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors...
described him as "wise and noble" for his actions as a senator. According to Tacitus his actions could be taken as an example for independent aristocrats living under tyranny.
Descendants
His daughter Aemilia LepidaAemilia Lepida
Aemilia Lepida is a Roman woman belonging to the gens Aemilia. All but the first Aemilia Lepida lived in the imperial era. The name was given to daughters of men belonging to the Lepidus branch of the gens Aemilia. The first Aemilia Lepida to be mentioned by Roman historians was the former fiancee...
married Drusus Caesar, a son of Germanicus
Germanicus
Germanicus Julius Caesar , commonly known as Germanicus, was a member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty and a prominent general of the early Roman Empire. He was born in Rome, Italia, and was named either Nero Claudius Drusus after his father or Tiberius Claudius Nero after his uncle...
and Agrippina the Elder
Agrippina the elder
Vipsania Agrippina or most commonly known as Agrippina Major or Agrippina the Elder was a distinguished and prominent granddaughter of the Emperor Augustus. Agrippina was the wife of the general, statesman Germanicus and a relative to the first Roman Emperors...
. She committed suicide after being accused of adultery.
Although it is uncertain, some historians believe that he was also father to that Marcus Aemilius Lepidus who became Caligula
Caligula
Caligula , also known as Gaius, was Roman Emperor from 37 AD to 41 AD. Caligula was a member of the house of rulers conventionally known as the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Caligula's father Germanicus, the nephew and adopted son of Emperor Tiberius, was a very successful general and one of Rome's most...
’s lover and brother-in-law, husband to Julia Drusilla, and about whom there were rumors that Caligula had indicated him as his successor. However, the younger Lepidus was probably involved in a conspiracy in 39 A.D., along with the emperor's sisters Agrippina the Younger
Agrippina the Younger
Julia Agrippina, most commonly referred to as Agrippina Minor or Agrippina the Younger, and after 50 known as Julia Augusta Agrippina was a Roman Empress and one of the more prominent women in the Julio-Claudian dynasty...
and Julia Livilla. Whether the conspiracy was real or not, Caligula so accused him and Lepidus was executed in the same year.