Scipio (cognomen)

Scipio (plural, Scipiones) is a Roman "cognomen" representing the Cornelii Scipiones, a branch of the Cornelii family. ("See other meanings, below, derived from this family.")__TOC__

The family

The Cornelii Scipiones, who first appear in Roman history circa 395 BC in the context of the Gaulish invasion of Italy, were the most distinguished branch of one of the younger but most powerful patrician families - the gens Cornelia. At least fifteen members of the family became consuls, some being re-elected, between 350 BC and 111 BC. Their family tomb, dated to the 3rd century BC and rediscovered in 1780, contained one of the earliest collections of Latin inscriptions, and an important historical source for the Roman Republic.

Political context

The Cornelii Scipiones were one of the main political families (or branches thereof) contesting for power in the shape of consulships. Their rise was phenomenal; in the fourth century BC, they held only one consulship; in the third century BC, they held eight consulships (and produced six consuls including Scipio Africanus). By the late second century BC, the Scipiones were traditional political allies of the Paulii branch of the Aemilius family, and intermarried with them at least once. When the most distinguished branch became extinct in the male line circa 170 BC, it survived a further generation by adopting an Aemilius Paullus (the future Scipio Aemilianus) into the Scipionic stemline.

Before and during the Second Punic War, the Scipiones struggled to get their views heard in preference to that of conservatives such as Quintus Fabius Maximus (head of the gens Fabia). The Scipiones and their allies, including the Aemilii, were said to favor war and expansionism; the Fabii, with their allies the Manlii, favored conservatism. The political differences gradually widened to include military differences; the brothers Scipio (who fell in Spain) sought to carry the war into Carthaginian territory, an idea backed by Scipio Africanus a few years later. The Scipiones are also believed to have been behind the election of Gaius Terentius Varro, which led indirectly to the disastrous defeat at Cannae survived by Africanus, then a very young commander.

The conquests of grandfather and adoptive grandson marked the end of an era, and the decline or demise of the Middle Republic. The two Scipiones, by destroying Carthage militarily and physically (on orders from the Senate), ensured that Rome had no major threat to her expansion around the Mediterranean. Ironically, another Scipio (Scipio Nasica) had opposed any further war with Carthage, arguing that Rome needed a strong rival to keep her older values.

Cultural context

The Scipiones were also famous for their interest in the Hellenistic way of life. Scipio Africanus was criticized by many in the Senate for his love of luxury and his Greek style of wearing the toga. Yet it was he and his friends who introduced the idea of formally educating women and children in Greek. They also spearhearded a luxurious style of living, with Africanus building an immense house on the Forum itself (subsequently rebuilt by his son-in-law into the Basilica Sempronia). Scipio is said to have introduced orange trees (from Iberia) to Rome, and also brought many rare flowering plants to Rome from Africa.

Scipio Aemilianus was famous for his Scipionic Circle, a group of scholars and philosophers that he gathered around him in his house in Rome. He was a patron and friend of the historian Polybius, the grammarian Lucilius, the playwright Terence, and others.

People

Famous "Scipiones" include:
# Publius Cornelius Scipio, consular tribune 395 BC, first Scipio to be named in Livy; was Master of the Horse to Marcus Furius Camillus.
# Lucius Cornelius P.f. Scipio, consul 350 BC, possibly son of the previous
# Lucius Cornelius Cn.f. Scipio Barbatus, consul 298 BC, apparently grandson of the previous
# Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Asina, consul 260 BC, 254 BC; apparently elder surviving son of the previous
# Lucius Cornelius Scipio, consul 259 BC, apparently younger surviving son of no.3
# Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus, consul 222 BC, eldest surviving son of the previous
# Publius Cornelius Scipio, consul 218 BC, second surviving son of no.5
# Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, famous general, defeated Hannibal of Carthage at Zama, elder son of the previous
# Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus, consul 190 BC, younger son of no.7
# Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica, consul 191 BC, son of no.6
# Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Hispallus, consul 176 BC (died in office), cousin of nos.8-10
# Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus (augur), elder surviving son of no.8
# Lucius Cornelius Scipio, praetor 174 BC, younger surviving son of no.8
# Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Corculum, consul 162 BC, 155 BC, son of no.10
# Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus Africanus Numantinus (Scipio the Younger, or Scipio Aemilianus), adoptive son of no. 12, and adoptive grandson of no.8
# Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Serapio, consul 138 BC, son of no.14 and grandson maternally of no.8 (Scipio Africanus)
# Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica (consul 111 BC), son of the previous
# Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica, praetor 94 BC, son of the previous
# Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus Asiagenus, consul 83 BC, descendant of no.9
# Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Cornelianus Scipio Nasica (Metellus Scipio), consul 52 BC, natural son of no.16, adopted by father's cousin

----The relationship of the following Scipios to all of the above is unknown:
# Publius Cornelius Scipio, consul 16 BC.
# Ser. Cornelius Scipio L. Saluidienus Orfitus, consul 149
# Ser. Cornelius Scipio Saluidienus Orfitus, consul 178

ee also

* Scipio-Paullus-Gracchus family tree
* Cornelius (gens)
*Roman noble families: Aemilii Paulli, Fabii Maximi, and Sempronii Gracchi