Mamercus Aemilius Lepidus Livianus
Mamercus Aemilius Lepidus Livianus, (died c. 62 BC)[1] was a Roman politician and military commander who was consul in 77 BC.
Biography
Livianus was a well connected and influential figure in Late Republican 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.[2] His influence was such that he was able to intercede with Lucius Cornelius Sulla on the young Julius Caesar's behalf, getting Sulla to spare Caesar's life.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5]
Although having failed once to be elected praetor, he tried again, achieving the office by 81 BC.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8]
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.[9] By 70 BC, he may have been Princeps Senatus, although the evidence is inconclusive.[10] He was called as a hostile witness against Gaius Cornelius in 65 BC, as part of the events surrounding the First Catilinarian Conspiracy.[11]
Depictions in fiction
Lepidus Livianus appears in Colleen McCullough's novel The Grass Crown and its sequels.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Marcus Aemilius Lepidus and Quintus Lutatius Catulus |
Consul of the Roman Republic with Decimus Junius Brutus 77 BC |
Succeeded by Gnaeus Octavius and Gaius Scribonius Curio |
Sources
- T. Robert S. Broughton, 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).
Notes
- ↑ Livianus died sometime between the death of Metellus Pius in 63 BC and Quintus Lutatius Catulus (Capitolinus) in 61 BC - see Broughton, pg. 185
- ↑ Anthon & Smith, pg. 432; Broughton, pg. 22
- ↑ Anthon & Smith, pg. 432
- ↑ Broughton, pg. 22
- ↑ Broughton, pg. 42
- ↑ Broughton, pg. 75
- ↑ Broughton, pg. 79
- ↑ Broughton, The Magistrates of the Roman Republic, Vol III, pg. 7
- ↑ Broughton, pg. 104
- ↑ Although Livianus was listed first on the roll of the Senate for that year, much of the prominence attached to that position had been undermined by the Sullan reforms of a decade before, and that this was by now merely a technical term - see Broughton, pg. 126
- ↑ Broughton, The Magistrates of the Roman Republic, Vol III, pg. 7