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, geting 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 distincion in the Social War (91–88 BC), probably serving as legate under Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius. He achieved some victories, most notably he was creditied with killing the the general of the Marsi, Quintus Poppaedius Silo, during the storming of Venusia.^[5]

Although having failing 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 time 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 Catilinian Conspiracy.^[11]

Lepidus Livianus appears in Colleen McCullough's novel The Grass Crown and its sequels.

Preceded by Marcus Aemilius Lepidus and Quintus Lutatius Catulus

Consul of the Roman Republic with Decimus Iunius 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

1. ^ Livianus died sometime between the death of Metellus Pius in 63 BC and Quintus Lutatius Catulus (Capitolinus) in 61 BC - see Broughton, pg. 185
2. ^ Anthon & Smith, pg. 432; Broughton, pg. 22
3. ^ Anthon & Smith, pg. 432
4. ^ Broughton, pg. 22
5. ^ Broughton, pg. 42
6. ^ Broughton, pg. 75
7. ^ Broughton, pg. 79
8. ^ Broughton, The Magistrates of the Roman Republic, Vol III, pg. 7
9. ^ Broughton, pg. 104
10. ^ 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 techincal term - see Broughton, pg. 126
11. ^ Broughton, The Magistrates of the Roman Republic, Vol III, pg. 7