No More Learning

Fulvius seems to have had the principal share himself narrowly escaped with his life. On the
in its construction (Liv. xl. 51), it was generally breaking out of the civil war between Pompey and
called the Fulvia basilica (Plut. Caes. 29), some Caesar, B. C. 49, Lepidus, who was then praetor,
times the Aemilia et Fulvia (Varr L. L. vi. 2), but joined the party of the latter ; and as the consuls
after the restoration by Aemilius Paullus, it was had fled with Pompey from Italy, Lepidus, ab
always called the Basilica Paulli or Aemilia. The praetor, was the highest magistrate remaining in
restoration of this basilica was almost completed in Italy. Caesar accordingly, when he set out for
B. c. 54, the year in which Cicero (1. c. ) was writing. Spain, to carry on the war against Afranius and
But the question where the new one was built is a Petreius, left Lepidus nominally in charge of the
very difficult one to answer. Most modern writers city, though he really depended upon Antony for
have supposed that the two basilicae were built by the preservation of peace in Italy. During Caesar's
the side of one another in the forum ; but this absence in Spain, Lepidus presided at the comitia,
seems hardly possible to have been the case, since in which the former was appointed dictator, who
we never find mention of more than one basilica was thus able to hold the consular comitia, which
Aemilia or Paulli in all the ancient writers. (Tac. it would have been impossible for a praetor to
Ann. iji. 72 ; Plin. H. N. xxxvi. 15, 24 ; Stat. have done.
Silv. i 1. 29; Plut. Caes. 29, Galb. 26 ; Dion In the following year, B. c. 48, Lepidus received
Cass. xlix. 42, liv. 24 ; Appian, B. C. ii. 26. ) | the province of Nearer Spain, with the title of
Becker, therefore, supposes (Handb. der Rom. Al proconsul, and here displayed both the vanity and
terthümer, vol. i. pp. 301—306) that the new build- avarice which marked his character. Having com-
ing, which Paullus commenced, was the same as pelled the proconsul Q. Cassius Longinus, in For-
the one afterwards called the Basilica Julia, more ther Spain, and his quaestor M. Marcellus. who were
COIN OF M. AEMILIUS PAULLUS.


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LEPIDUS.
767
LEPIDUS.
making war upon one another, to lay down their besieged by Antony. The senate espoused the
urms, he assumed the title of imperator, though side of Brutus, and were now exceedingly anxious
he had not struck a blow. On his return to Rome to induce Lepidus to join them, as he had a power,
B. c. 47, Caesar gratified his vanity with a triumph, ful army on the other side of the Alps, and could
though the only trophies he could display, says easily crush Antony if he pleased. Under the
Dion Cassius (xliii. 1), was the money of which pretence, therefore, of showing him additional
he had robbed the province. In the course of the marks of honour on account of his inducing Pompey
same year Caesar made him his magister equitum, to lay down his arms, the senate, on the proposition
and in the next year, B. C. 46, his colleague in the of Cicero, voted an equestrian statue of Lepidus,
consulship. He was likewise nominated magister and conferred upon him the title of imperator.
equitum by Caesar for the second and third times in Lepidus, however, hesitated what part to take, and
B. C. 45 and 44.
seems to have been anxious to wait the result of
In B. C. 44 Lepidus received from Caesar the the contest between Antony and the senate, before
government of Narbonese Gaul and Nearer Spain, committing himself irrevocably to either party.
but had not quitted the neighbourhood of Rome at He did not even thank the senate for their decree
the time of the dictator's death. He was then in his honour ; and when they requested him to
collecting troops for his provinces, and the con- march into Italy and assist the consuls Hirtius and
spirators had therefore proposed to murder him as Pansa, in raising the siege of Mutina, he only sent a
well as Antony with the dictator ; but this project detachment of his troops across the Alps under the
was overruled. On the evening before the fatal command of M. Silvanus, and to him he gave such
15th of March Caesar had supped with Lepidus doubtful orders that Silvanus thought it would be
(Appian, B. C. ii. 115), and he was present on the more pleasing to his general that his soldiers should
following day in the curia of Pompey, in the fight for rather than against Antony, and accord-
Campus Martins, and saw Caesar fall by the ingly joined the latter. Meantime, Lepidus incurred
daggers of his assassins. (Plut. Caes. 67 ; the state the displeasure of Cicero and the aristocracy, by
ment of Appian, B. C. q. 118, and Dion Cassius xliv. writing to the senate to recommend peace. Shortly
22, that Lepidus was not present, is less probable). afterwards, in the latter half of the month of April,
Lepidus hastily stole away from the senate house the battles were fought in the neighbourhood of
with the other friends of Caesar, and after con- Mutina, which compelled Antony to raise the siege
cealing himself for a few hours, repaired to his and take to flight. He crossed the Alps with the
troops, the possession of which in the neighbourhood remains of his troops, and proceeded straight to
of Rome, seemed almost to place the supreme Lepidus, who finding it impossible to maintain a
power in his hands.
Accordingly, in the night of neutral position any longer, united his army to that
the 15th of March, he took possession of the of Antony on the 28th of May. The senate,
forum with his soldiers, and on the following morn therefore, on the 30th of June, proclaimed Lepidus
ing addressed the people to exasperate them against a public enemy, and ordered his statue to be thrown
the murderers of the dictator. Antony, however, down. The young Octavian still continued to act
dissuaded him from resorting to violence, and in nominally with the senate ; bat with his usual
the negotiations which followed with the aristocracy penetration he soon saw that the senate would be
Lepidus adopted all the views of the former. He unable to resist the strong force that was collecting
was, therefore, a party to the hollow reconciliation on the other side of the Alps, and therefore resolved
which took place between the aristocracy and to desert the falling side. For besides their own
Caesar's friends. In return for the support which troops Lepidus and Antony were now joined by
Antony had received from Lepidus, he allowed Asinius Pollio, the governor of Further Spain, and
the latter to be chosen pontifex maximus, which by L. Munatius Plancus, the govemor of Further
dignity had become vacant by Caesar's death ; Gaul, and were preparing to cross the Alps with
and, to cement their union still more closely, a most formidable ariny. In August Octavian
Antony betrothed his daughter to the son of compelled the senate to allow him to be elected
Lepidus. As Antony had no further occasion for consul, and likewise to repeal the decrees that had
Lepidus in Rome, he now repaired to his provinces been made against Lepidus and Antony ; and
of Gaul and Spain, with the special object of towards the latter end of October he had the
effecting a reconciliation between Sex. Pompey and celebrated interview at Bononia, between Lepidus
the new rulers at Rome. This was proposed at and Antony, which resulted in the formation of
Antony's suggestion, who was anxious to with the triumvirate. [AUGUSTUS, p. 425, b. ) In the
draw Pompey from Spain and induce him to come division of the provinces among the triumvirs,
to Rome, that he might thus have deprived the Lepidus obtained Spain and Narbonese Gaul, which
senate of a considerable part of their forces, in case he was to govern by means of a deputy, in order
of the civil war breaking out again. The senate that he might remain in Italy next year as consul,
did not see through Antony's design ; Lepidus while the two other triumvirs prosecuted the war
succeeded in his mission, and accordingly received against Brutus and Cassius. Of his large army he
marks of honour from both parties; the senate on was only to retain three legions for the protection of
the 28th of November, on the proposition of Antony, Italy; the remaining seven were divided between
voted him a supplicatio.
Octavian and Antony. Thus Lepidus was to play
Shortly afterwards an open rupture occurred only a secondary part in the impending struggle
between Antony and the senate. Antony had between the triumvirs and the senate ; and with
obtained from the people the province of Cisalpine this he seems to have been contented, for he never
Gaul, which D. Brutus then held, and which he displayed any love of enterprise. In the pro-
refused to surrender to him (BRUTUS, No. 17]. scription-lists which were published on the return
Antony accordingly marched against him, and as of the triumvirs to Rome, Lepidus placed the name
the latter was unable to resist him in the field, he of his own brother Paullus, as has been already
threw himself into Mutina, which was forth with related. (See above, p. 760, a. ] Shortly afterwards,


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768
LEPIDUS.
LEPIDUS.
lle pos-
COIN OF M. LEPIDUS, THE TRIUMVIR.
on the 31st of December, Lepidus celebrated a he was exposed, did not shorten his life, for te
triumph as a consequence of the supplicatio which survived till B. c. 13. Augustus succeeded him
the senate had voted a year previously.
as pontifex maximus.
In B. c. 42 Lepidus remained in Rome as consul ; Lepidus was one of those men who have no de
and in the fresh division of the provinces, made cided character, and who are incapable of commit-
between Octavian and Antony, after the battle of ting great crimes for the same reason that they are
Philippi at the close of this year, Lepidus was de- incapable of performing any noble acts.
prived of his provinces, under the pretext of his sessed great wealth, and, like almost all his con-
having had treasonable intercourse with Sex. Pom- temporaries, was little scrupulous about the means
pey; but it was arranged that, in case he should of acquiring it. Neither in war nor in peace did
be proved innocent of the crime laid to his charge, he exhibit any distinguished abilities ; but that he
he should receive Africa as a compensition for the was not so contemptible a character, as he is drawn
provinces taken from him: so soon did Octavian by Drumann, seems pretty certain from the respect
and Antony make him feel that he was their sub- with which he was always treated by that great
ject rather than their equal. The triumvirs were judge of men, Julius Caesar. It seems clear that
unable to prove anything against Lepidus, but it Lepidus was fond of ease and repose, and it is not
was not till after the Perusinian war in B. c. 40, improbable that he possessed abilities capable of
that Octavian allowed Lepidus to take possession effecting much more than he ever did.
of his province, and he probably would not have Ilis wife was Junia, the sister of the M. Brutus
obtained it even then, had not Octavian been who killed Caesar. (JUNIA, No. 2. )
anxious to attach Lepidus to his interests, in case (The passages of Cicero referring to Lepidus are
of a rupture between himself and Antony. Lepidus given in Orelli, Onom. Tull. vol. ii. pp. 14, 15;
remained in Africa till B. c. 36. On the renewal | Appian, B. C. lib. ii. iii. v. ; Dion Cass. lib. xli-
of the triumvirate in B. C. 37, for another five years, xlix. ; Vell. Pat. ii. 64, 80; Flor. iv. 6, 7; Liv,
Lepidus had been included, though he had now Epit. 119, 120, 129 ; Suet. Octav. 16, 31 ; Sen. de
lost all real power. In the following year, B. c. 36, Clem. i. 10. )
Octavian summoned him to Sicily to assist him in
the war against Sex. Pompey. Lepidus obeyed, but
tired of being treated as a subordinate, he resolved
to make an effort to acquire Sicily for himself and
regain his lost power. He left Africa on the 1st
of July, B. C. 36, and on his arrival in Sicily pro-
ceeded to act on his own account, without consult-
ing Octavian. He first subdued Lilybaeum and
the neighbouring towns, and then marched against
Messana, which he also conquered. The eight
Pompeian legions, which formed the garrison of 18. Scipio, a brother of the two preceding (Nos.
the latter town, joined him, so that his my
16 and 17), and a son of No. 13, must have been
now amounted to twenty legions. Lepidus, there adopted by one of the Scipios. He fell in battle
fore, felt himself strong enough to assume a threaten- in the war of his father against the aristocratical
ing position, and accordingly, on the arrival of party, B. c. 77. (Oros. v. 22. )
Octavian, claimed Sicily for himself, and an equal 19. Paulus AEMILIUS L. F. M. N.
LEPIDUS,
share as triumvir in the government of the state. the son of L. Ae. nilius Paullus (No. 16), with
A civil war seemed inevitable. But Lepidus did whom he is frequently confounded. His name is
not possess the confidence of his soldiers; Octavian variously given by the ancient writers Aemilius
found means to seduce them from their allegiance, Paullus, or Paullus Aemilius, or Aemilius Lepidus
and at length, feeling sure of support from a nu- Paullus, but Paullus Aemilius Lepidus seems to be
merous body of them, adopted one day the bold the more correct form. He probably fied with his
resolution of riding into the very camp of Lepidus, father to Brutus, and seems to have been entrusted
and calling upon his troops to save their country by the latter with the defence of Crete; for we find
from a civil war. Although this daring attempt did him after the death of Brutus joining the remnants
not immediately succeed, and Octavian was obliged of the republican party with the Cretan troops, and
to retire with a wound in his breast, yet it had sailing with them into the lonian sea.
He must
eventually the desired effect. Detachment after subsequently have made his peace with the trium-
detachment deserted Lepidus, who found himself virs, as we find him accompanying Octavian in his
at last obliged to surrender to Octavian. All his campaign against Sex. Pompey in Sicily in B. C.
courage now forsook him. He put on mourning, 36. In B. C. 34 he obtained the consulship, but
and threw himself before the knees of Octavian, only as consul suffectus, on the 1st of July, and
begging for his life. This Octavian granted him, dedicated the basilica Aemilia, which had been
but he deprived him of his triumvirate, his army, originally erected by his father (see p. 766], but
and his provinces, and commanded that he should which he had rebuilt. In B. c. 22 he was censor
live at Circeii, under strict surveillance. He allowed with L. Munatius Plancus, with whom he could
him, however, to retain his private fortune, and his not agree, and died while holding this dignity.
dignity of pontifex maximus.
Dion Cassius seems to bave confounded him with
Thus ended the public life of Lepidus. After the his father in saying that the censor had been for-
conspiracy of his son against the life of Augustus merly proscribed ; it is not impossible, however,
at the time of the battle of Actium (see below), that the son may have been proscribed along with
Lepidus was ordered to return to Rome ; and, his father, although no other writer mentions the
though he had not been privy to it, he was treated fact. (Appian, B. C. v. 2; Suet. Octav. 16;
by Augustus with the utmost indignity. Still the Dion Cass. xlix. 42, liv. 2 ; Vell. Pat. ii. 95;
lees of honour and rank, and the insults to which | Propert. iv. 11. 67. )
;


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LEPIDUS.
769
LEPIDUS.
The wife of Paullus Aemilius Lepidus was Cor- of any of the enemies of Octavian, describes Le-
nelia, the daughter of Cornelius Scipio and of pidus as “juvenis forma quam mente melior. "
Scribonia, who was subsequently the wife of Au- Lepidus was married twice: his first wife was
gustus. She was thus the step-daughter of Au- Antonia, the daughter of the triumvir (ANTONIA,
gustus, and her family became still more closely No. 4), and his second Servilin, who put an end to
connected with the imperial house by the marriage her life by swallowing burning coals when the
of one of her sons, L. Aemilius Paullus (No. 22], conspiracy of her husband was discovered. (Vell.
to a daughter of Julia, who was her half-sister, Pat ii. 08 ; Appian, B. C. iv. 50 ; Dion Cass. liv.
being the daughter of Augustus and Scribonin. 15; Suet. Oclar. 19; Liv. Epit. 133; Senec. de
There is an elegy of Propertius (iv. 11), in which Clein. I, De Brer. Vitae, i. 9. )
Cornelia is represented as consoling her husband 21. Q. A EMILIUs Lerinus, consul B. c. 21 with
Paullus on account of her death. She there speaks M. Lollius. (Dion Cass, liv. 6; Hor. Ep. i. 20.
of having died in the consulship of her brother (iv. 28. ) It appears from an inscription quoted under
11. 65), who is supposed to have been the P. Cor- FABRICIUS (Vol. II. p. 132, b), that he and Lollius
nelius Scipio who was consul in B. c. 16. Thus a repaired the Fabrician bridge. The descent of this
contradiction arises between Velleius Paterculus Lepidus is quite uncertain : the conjecture of Dru-
(ii. 95) and Dion Cassius (liv. 2) on the one hand, mann (Gesch. Roms, vol. i. p. 24) that he was a
and Propertius on the other, as the two former son of the triumvir is in itself improbable ; and we
writers say that Paullus died during his censorship. find besides that he is called in inscriptions M'. F. ,
Perhaps, however, the brother of Cornelia may not and not M. F.
have been the consul of B. c. 16, but one of the 22. L. AEMILIUS PAULLUS, the son of Paullus
consuls suffecti, not mentioned in the Fasti. Aemilius Lepidus (No. 19] and Cornelia, married
Paullus had by Cornelia three children, two sons Julia, the grand-daughter of Augustus, being a
and a daughter (Nos. 22, 23, 24), to all of whom daughter of M. Agrippa and Julia, who was the
Propertius alludes. The daughter was born in the daughter of Augustus. Paullus is therefore called
censorship of her father (Propert. iv. 1). 67), and the progener of Augustus. As Julia, the daughter
if Paullus really died in his censorship there could of Augustus, was the half-sister of Cornelia (see
have been only a very short interval between his above, No. 19), Paullus married his first cousin.
wife's death and his own. The annexed coin pro- He was consul in A. D. I with C. Caesar, his wife's
bably has reference to this Paullus Aemilius Le- brother, and the grandson of Augustus ; but, 110t-
pidus: it has on the obverse the head of Concordia withstanding his close connection with the imperial
with PAVLLVS LEPIDVS CONCORDIA, and on the re family, he nevertheless entered into a conspiracy
verse a trophy with several figures, and the words against Augustus, of the particulars of which we
TER PAVLLVs. The reverse refers to the victory are not informed. (Propert. iv. 11. 03 ; Suet. Oct.
of the celebrated L. Aemilius Paullus over Perseus: 19, 64; Dion Cass. lv. Ind. ) Respecting Julia,
on the right hand of the trophy stands Aemilius the wife of Paullus, see Julia, No. 7.
Paullus himself, and on the left Perseus and his 23. M. AEMILIUS LEPIDUS, the brother of No.
Ter may refer to his triumph lasting 22, was consul A. D. 6 with L. Arruntius. (Propert.
three days, or to his having enjoyed three different iv. 11. 63; Dion Cass. lv. 25. ) Instead of con-
triumphs. (Comp. Eckhel, vol. v. pp. 130, 131. ) spiring against Augustus, like his brother, he seems
always to have lived on the most intimate terms
with him. He was employed by Augustus in the
war against the Dalmatians in a. D. 9. (Vell. Pat.
j. 114, 115; Dion Cass. lvi. 12. ) When Augustus
shortly before his death was speaking of the Roman
nobles, whose abilities would qualify them for the
supreme power, or whose ambition would prompt
them to aspire to it, he described Lepidus as “ capax
Bed aspernans. " (Tac. Ann. i. 13. ) The high estima-
tion in which he was held by Augustus he continued
There is another coin of Paullus Aemilius Le to enjoy even with the jealous and suspicious Tibe-
pidus, with the same obverse as the one given rius; and although he took no part in the fulsome
above, but with the reverse representing the Scri- Batteries which the senate were continually pre-
bonian puteal, which we find on the coins of the senting to the emperor, and used his influence in
Scribonian gens (see Livo), and with the legend the cause of justice, yet such was his prudence,
PVTEAL SCRIBON, LIBO.
This emblem of the that he did not forfeit the favour of Tiberius. The
Scribonia gens was used on account of the wife of praises bestowed upon him by Velleius Paterculus
Paullus being the daughter of Scribonia, who had (l. c. ), which would not of themselves be of much
then become the wife of Augustus, as is stated | value, as this writer always speaks favourably of
above.
the friends of Augustus, are confirmed by the
20. M. AEMILIUS LEPIDUS, the son of the weightier authority of Tacitus, who bears the
triumvir [No. 17) and Junia, formed a conspiracy strongest testimony to the virtues and wisdom of
in B. C. 30, for the purpose of assassinating Octa- Lepidus. (Tac. Ann. iv. 20. )
vian on his return to Rome after the battle of The name of M. Lepidus occurs several times in
Actium ; but Maecenas, who had charge of the Tacitis, and must be carefully distinguished from
city, became acquainted with the plot, seized that of M'. Lepidus (see No. 25), with which it is fre-
Lepidus, without creating any disturbance, and quently confounded, both in the MSS. and editions
sent him to Octavian in the East, who put him to of the historian. M. Lepidus is first mentioned in
death. His father was ignorant of the conspiracy, Tacitus at the accession of Tiberius, A. D. 14, next in
but his mother was privy to it. (Junia, No. 2. A.