Lucius Aemilius Paullus : born in 229 B.C. in Roma, died in 160 B.C. in Roma

A Roman consul and general, who is chiefly celebrated for having successfully conducted a war against Perseus, king of Macedon. He died about the year 647 of Rome, and 107 years before the birth of Christ.

We are now arrived at a period when the manners of the Romans had become greatly corrupted by prosperity. Many of the noble families were disgraced by luxury, pride, cruelty, and perfidy: some, it is true, were eminent for virtue; and, as these happened to prevail in the senate and in the army, the Roman history is marked by records of dishonourable or glorious actions. The Roman youth, however, are said to have, in general, been educated in great modesty and temperance; and to have been taught to venerate the ancient laws of their country.

The Triumph of Aemilius Paulus

The Emilian family was one of the most ancient among the Roman nobility; and the person, a narrative of whose actions I am about to relate, was the son of that Paulus AEmilius, whose unhappy death, in the battle of Cannae, has already been mentioned in the memoir of Fabius Maximus.

On beginning the world, he did not endeavour to attain public honours by any of the usual arts of popularity. His free and independent spirit would not permit him to flatter, caress, and solicit the people, the mode that most of his contemporaries and associates adopted. He was diligent in laying the basis of a far more noble and more lasting reputation; founded in virtue, and in incorruptible integrity.

The first office which he obtained in the state, was that of Edile; and he succeeded against twelve powerful competitors. He and his colleague AEmilius Lepidus obtained great applause from the people, by prosecuting, to conviction, some of the farmers of the public lands, who had defrauded the state; and, with the money received for the fines, they placed gilded shields in the upper part of the temple of Jupiter.

Paulus AEmilius appears next to have been appointed one of the priests called Augurs, whom the Romans employed in the inspection and care of divination, by the flight of birds, and by prodigies in the air. He is said to have studied, and to have perfected himself in all the ancient ceremonies of the augurs, and to have performed these with great Skill. Indeed it appears, that he really placed much confidence in augury; and, unenlightened by revelation, we ought not, perhaps, to be surprised at mankind, (anxious to ascertain the views of divine providence,) deceiving themselves even by the grossest superstition.

It was the character of AEmilius, to perform, with ardour, the duty of every office which he undertook. When he served in the Roman army, he was exact, in the observance of military conduct and discipline. He did not, like many others, study to render himself popular, by humouring and indulging the soldiers, all of whom, as Roman citizens, had votes, for great civil and military employments: but he impartially performed his duty, and thus brought the army into a high state of perfection. He was accustomed to assert that the overcoming of an enemy was to him an object of much less importance, than bringing his countrymen to a state of strict discipline; for the former, he said, was a necessary consequence of the latter.

About the year of Rome 563 of Rome, there was a general revolt against the Roman authorities in Spain; and Emilius, with about eighty thousand men, was directed to proceed thither. He fought a pitched battle with the Lusitanians, and totally routed them, with a loss greater than the amount of his whole army. After this, we are told that two hundred and fifty towns opened their gates, and were voluntarily surrendered to him. He established peace through out the province; and, as soon as he had secured its allegiance, he returned to Rome; but not one drachma richer than when he went out, for Paulus Emilius never exhibited much eagerness to obtain wealth.

In the year 570 of Rome, he was elected consul; and, in the ensuing year, he headed an expedition against the Liguriam, a warlike and maritime people, who inhabited the north-western parts of Italy. They had an army of forty thousand men, whilst that of AEmilius consisted only of about eight thousand; and, although they were thus five times his number, he entirely routed them. The Ligurians afterwards made peace with the Romans, and surrendered to them all their large ships, with which they had previously committed great devastation in almost every part of the Mediterranean.

Notwithstanding these memorable services, when AEmilius again offered himself a candidate for the office of consul, he was rejected; and, being a man of independent spirit, he determined never afterwards to solicit it.

For nearly fifteen years after this period, he lived in retirement, being chiefly occupied in his office of augur, and in the education of his children. He caused his two sons to be instructed in such sciences as were usually taught in Rome, and also in the politer arts of Greece. For this purpose, he not only kept masters who could teach them grammar, logic, and rhetoric, but also sculpture and painting. He likewise caused them to be instructed in almost every kind of martial exercise. He had two daughters, one of whom be rendered worthy to be married into the AElian family, and the other into the family of Cato.

The Romans became involved in a war with Perseus, king of Macedon: and, for some time, the advantage appeared to be on the side of the enemy. Their want of success was imputed to the incapacity and cowardice of their generals. They were consequently resolved to elect, as consul, some man capable of conducting the army more to their satisfaction, than those persons to whom the command had recently been given. At this time, AEmilius was near sixty years of age; but, being still in the vigour of health, and all his faculties being still unimpaired, he was considered the only man, capable of retrieving the character of his country; and was, consequently solicited, by the citizens, to accept the consulship. Having been rejected by them before, he now received the offer with great indifference. For many successive days they entreated of him to accept it. At last he was prevailed with to do so; and, immediately after his election, he assumed the command of the army, which was appointed to act against Perseus.

It had been customary with those who were appointed to the consulship, to make their acknowledgments in a speech to the people. AEmilius said to them, that he had formerly applied for the office of consul, because he wanted a command; but that the people now entreated him to accept it, because they wanted a commander. He could not, therefore, consider himself under the slightest obligation to them. If they knew any one who could manage the war better than himself, he would readily resign the command; but, if they placed any confidence in him, he expected that they would not interfere with his orders, nor propagate any idle reports concerning him; but that they would quietly furnish whatever was requisite for the war.--Let such (he continued) as think themselves qualified to advise their general, now accompany me into Macedonia. They shall have a passage on board my ship; and, in the field, they shall be welcome to a place in my tent, and at my table; but, if they now decline this offer, let them not, afterwards, pretend to judge of what they neither see nor understand. This independent speech was received with great applause, and impressed even the populace with a just sense of respect for their consul.

Emilius set out on his expedition; and arrived, in safety, at the Roman camp in Macedonia; and perhaps no man was better qualified than he, for a Service like this. In intrepidity, judgment, presence of mind, and dexterity of expedients, few were equal, and none superior to him.

Perseus, the Macedonian commander, is described to have been a man of inferior capacity, and of mean and avaricious disposition. His army, however, consisted of about fifty thousand well-disciplined soldiers. When AEmilius advanced against them, they were encamped near the sea-coast, at the foot of Mount Olympus, and in an inaccessible place, strengthened on every side by fortifications of wood. Here Perseus lay, free from all apprehension of danger; believing that he should be able to destroy the power of the consul, by protracting the time, and exhausting his means of subsistence. AEmilius studied every possible method of attack. His greatest difficulty consisted in restraining the impetuosity of his soldiers; but, whenever they ventured to express impatience at his delay, he reproved them with the utmost severity; ordering them not to interfere with, not attend to, anything but their own persons and weapons.

They suffered much from want of water; for they soon exhausted all the springs: and would have been compelled to quit their station, had it not occurred to AEmilius that, as the upper part of the mountains, near which they were encamped, was covered with trees, there must be springs beneath the soil, which would discharge themselves at the bottom. He, therefore, caused several wells to be dug. These were soon filled, and his troops were abundantly supplied with water.

As Perseus would not risk a battle, it was requisite that AEmilius should explore the various passes of the mountains, and obtain every possible intelligence concerning the neighbourhood. At length he ascertained that there was a path, though a rugged and almost impracticable one, which the enemy had left unguarded. An officer whose name was Scipio Nasica, (and who was subsequently a leading man in the Roman senate,) volunteered his services, to head the troops in penetrating this pass, for the purpose of reaching the enemy; and Fabius Maximus, the eldest son of AEmilius, though only a youth, eagerly joined in the enterprise. That the enemy might not suspect their intentions, they commenced their march, by proceeding in a direction towards the sea. But, when night came on, Nasica explained to the soldiers his real design, and directed them to follow a different route. They passed the night among the mountains; and, in the morning, Perseus, seeing that the camp of AEmilius was still in its place, little suspected the danger to which he was exposed. On being, soon afterwards, informed of it, by a Roman deserter, he detached twelve thousand men, to seize the heights above the Romans. A sharp and dangerous conflict ensued, in which the Macedonians were defeated. Perseus, terrified at this disaster, retired from his strong position, to a plain near Pydna; and AEmilius, having been joined by Nasica, marched against him. When, however, he saw the number and excellent arrangement of the Macedonian force, be halted, for a while, to consider what was proper to be done.

All the young officers were eager for engagement; and particularly Nasica: he entreated of his com made: to lead them on without delay. AEmilius smiled at him, and answered, Nasica, I once thought as you do now. Hereafter you will think with me. By long experience in war, I have learned when it is best to fight, and when to abstain from fighting. It would be improper for me now to explain to you the reasons which induce me to rest-to-day. Ask these some other time; and, at present, acquiesce in the judgment of an old commander.

Nasica was silenced; for he had the utmost confidence in AEmilius. In fact, the Macedonians were, at this time, much more numerous than the Romans. Of the latter, nearly one fourth were at a distance in the rear, and even those who were present were too much fatigued with their march, to be able, successfully, to oppose so powerful a foe, as was now encamped before them.

On the ensuing day, when AEmilius saw the tremendous line of Macedonians, and their allies, the Thracians, marching against him, he was astonished; but he was not intimidated. He exhibited to his troops a cheerful countenance, and rode, along his lines, without either helmet or breast-plate. On the contrary, the king of Macedon, notwithstanding his advantage in numbers, was no sooner engaged in the fight, than he gave way to his fears, and fled; under pretence, as some assert, of sacrificing to Hercules; but, according to others, in consequence of a wound which he received from a javelin. Notwithstanding the defection of their monarch, the troops made so powerful an opposition, that it was not without great difficulty and tremendous slaughter, on both sides, they were subdued. It was solely by the skilful management of his troops, that Emilius, at last, obtained a decisive and most important victory.

But, rejoiced as he was, at his success as a commander, he was, overwhelmed with grief, when, of his two sons, the youngest, whose name was Scipio, and whom he chiefly loved, was not to be found.

As this youth, then only in his seventeenth year, had been naturally brave and ambitions of honour, it was concluded that his inexperience had engaged him too far in the hottest of the battle, and that he had been killed. The whole army sympathized in the distress of their general. Many, both of the soldiers and officers, ran out with torches, some to the general's tent, and some to the trenches, to seek him among the slain. A profound melancholy reigned in the camp, while the field resounded with the cries of persons calling aloud his name; for he was a youth beloved by all. A considerable part of the night was passed in the search; and he was almost given up for lost, when he returned, accompanied by two or three of his friends, and covered with blood. Eager to perform his duty to the utmost, he had continued the pursuit too far; and, by so doing, might have fallen a sacrifice to his temerity.

Within two days after this battle, AEmilius was master of the whole of Macedon. Perseus exhibited the most disgraceful traits, both of cruelty and cow ardice. He stabbed two of his treasurers with a poniard, for having found some fault with his proceedings; and, when he was at Amphipolis, fearful lest the inhabitants should deliver him to the Romans, he came out with his only child, to entreat their favour; but his tears flowed so fast, that he found it impracticable to proceed. After this he fled to the island of Samothrace, in the AEgean Sea; and at last surrendered himself to AEmilius. This general, when informed of his approach, rose from his seat, and, accompanied by his friends, went to receive the king, as a great man reduced from splendour to captivity. But Perseus exhibited the most abject humility. He bowed down with his face to the earth, and embraced the knees of his conqueror in so humiliating a manner, that Emilius exclaimed: Wretched man! you do but tarnish my laurels, and detract from my achievements, by showing yourself a contemptible adversary, unfit to cope with a Roman. Courage in the unfortunate is revered, even by an enemy; but cowardice, though it meet with success, is ever held by the Romans in contempt. He raised the degraded monarch with his hand, led him into his tent, and afterwards gave him in charge to one of the Roman officers.

This reproof was spoken to Perseus in the Greek language. AEmilius, afterwards turning to those around him, addressed to them, in Latin, some instructive remarks, on what had taken place. Ignorant of any better principle, and believing that all human affairs were subject to what he termed the vicissitudes of fortune, he said: Is it fit that a mortal should be elated by prosperity, and plume himself upon the overturning of a city or a kingdom? Observe this instance of the instability of human affairs. To you, young men, I principally address the observation. The very joy of success must ever be mingled with anxiety, in him who reflects upon the course of fate, which spares none, but humbles today one man, and tomorrow another. After a battle of one hour's continuance, we have seen, in Perseus, the overthrow of the house of Alexander; that monarch, who once extended his empire over the greatest part of the world. When you contemplate this, and when you see princes, that were lately at the head of immense armies, receive their provisions, for the day, from the hands of their enemies; can you so far flatter yourselves, as to believe that fortune has firmly settled your prosperity? Rather, my young friends, quit this elation of heart, and the vain raptures of victory, and humble yourselves, in the thought of what may happen hereafter: even let us suppose, that the gods may send some misfortune to counterbalance our present success.

On a subsequent occasion we shall, still more strongly, see the application of these principles to himself; and the mode in which he did apply them, even when his own conduct towards the enemy was extremely reprehensible.

After this victory, AEmilius distributed his army into quarters, and made arrangements for redressing the grievances of the people, and reforming the government of Greece. The Roman power was now extended over Macedon. AEmilius declared the lands and the cities of the Macedonians free, and ordered that the people should be governed by their own laws, but that they should be tributary to Rome. He then exhibited various games and spectacles, offered sacrifices to the gods, and made great entertainments; the expence of which he defrayed out of the Macedonian treasures. He was not, however, lavish of these treasures: he appropriated no part of them to his own use; and he delivered, all that remained, into the hands of the quaestors, to be conveyed to Rome. All the booty which AEmilius reserved to himself, consisted of the books in the king's library; and these he presented to his sons.

The subsequent order of the Roman senate respecting this unfortunate country, and even the conduct of AEmilius, in compliance with that order, would have been disgraceful even to a country of barbarians. It was decreed, that the soldiers who had fought against Perseus, should be rewarded, by having permission to plunder the cities of Epirus; and, that they might be enabled to take the inhabitents by surprise, and thereby be the more successful, AEmilius sent for ten of the principal persons of each city, and fixed a day for them to bring in what ever silver and gold could he found in their houses and temples. He directed that each of these persons should be accompanied by a centurion and a guard of soldiers; pretending that their presence would be necessary to protect the treasure. On the day that he had named, the soldiers rushed upon the inhabitants; and, in one hour, a hundred and fifty thousand persons were made slaves, and seventy cities were sacked. Yet, from this horrible devastation, each soldier, received no more than eleven drachmas. Plutarch remarks, that all men shuddered at the termination of this war; when they reflected upon the horror of such a complete destruction, and that for so paltry an advantage. After this AEmilius went to Oricum, whence he embarked, with his forces, for Italy.

In proceeding up the river Tiber, to Rome, he sailed in a magnificent galley which had belonged to the king of Macedon; and which was richly adorned with weapons taken from the enemy, and with scarlet and purple cloth. The banks of the river were covered with multitudes of people, who came to witness the arrival of the victorious general and his army.

The Roman soldiers had been excessively disappointed in their hopes of plunder; and on their retum to Rome, they murmured loudly against the conduct of AEmilius. They alleged that he had been severe and imperious in the command; and Servius Galba, who had served under him as a tribune, circulated numerous calumnies, injurious to his character.

It was proposed to honour him with a public triumph, in recompence for his services; but this was strongly opposed by the soldiers. The principal senators, however, headed by Marcus Servilius, and a great number of Roman citizens, were favourable to AEmilius; and, determining, if possible, to repres the bold and licentious spirit, which they Observed to be rising in the army, they succeeded in obtaining a majority of votes, and the triumph was decree.

In every theatre or circus, where equestrian games were accustomed to be held; and, in all other parts of Rome, from which it was possible to see the procession, scaffolds were erected. On the day of the triumph, the spectators were clad in white garments. All the temples were opened, adorned with garlands, and perfumed with incense. The triumph occupied three days. On the first, were exhibited the images, paintings, and colossal statues taken from the enemy, and carried in two hundred and fifty chariots. On the second day, the richest and most beautiful of the Macedonian weapons and armour, were drawn through the city in an immense number of waggons. These were both of brass and steel, and consisted of helmets, shields, breast-plates, Cretan targets, Thracian bucklers, swords, spears, and quivers filled with arrows; and they were so loosely tied together, that they clattered as they were drawn along, with a noise so harsh and terrible, that they could scarcely be looked upon without dread. After the weapons and armour, walked three thousand men, who carried, in seven hundred and fifty vessels, the silver money which had been taken from the enemy. Each vessel was borne by four men. Next to these followed men bearing bowls, goblets, and cups, all of silver, and valuable not only for their size, but for the richness of the ornaments engraven upon them. On the third day, early in the morning, the trumpeters first advanced, sounding martial airs. These were followed by one hundred and twenty fat oxen, led to the sacrifice, having their horns gilded, and their heads adorned with ribbons and garlands: the youths Who led them were girded with belts of curious workmanship. Next came a number of boys, who carried the gold and silver vessels for the sacrifice. They were followed by persons bearing the gold coin which had been taken. This was carried in seventy-seven vessels, each held by four persons. Then marched the bearers of the golden bowl, set with precious stones, which AEmilius had caused to be made and consecrated to Jupiter, and which weighed six hundred pounds. After them advanced the men who carried the cups of Antigonus, Seleucus, and Thericles, and the gold plate which had been used at the table of Perseus. Immediately behind these was the chariot of Perseus, with his armour upon it, and upon that his diadem. At a little distance behind it were led, captive, his children, attended by their nurses, preceptors, and governors: then came Perseus himself, clad in black, and wearing sandals after the fashion of his country. He seemed overwhelmed with wretchedness, and appeared almost like a man deprived of reason. A great number of his friends and favourites followed him, their countenances oppressed with sorrow. After these were carried four hundred coronets of gold, which had been sent to AEmilius, from different cities, as compliments upon his victory. The next in the procession was AEmilius himself, seated in a chariot magnificently adorned. He was clad in a robe of purple interwoven with gold; and held, in his right hand, a branch of laurel. The whole army, bearing boughs of laurel, and divided into bands and companies, followed the chariot of their general, some singing satyrical odes, and others songs of triumph, and songs in praise of their commander.

A most instructive lesson is taught by this part of the history of AEmilius. Plutarch, though a heathen writer, thus moralizes upon it. There perhaps exists (says he) some Superior Being, whose office it is to cast a shade upon great and eminent prosperity, so as to mingle the lot of human life, that it may never be free from calamity; but, that those may think themselves the most happy, to whom are distributed an equal share of good and evil. Of the four sons of AEmilius, one of them, fourteen years of age, suddenly died, five days before his father's triumph; and another, twelve years old, died three days after it.

AEmilius himself states that he had expected some severe private misfortune to follow from his late uninterrupted flow of success. After the death of his second son, be assembled the people of Rome, and addressed them nearly in these terms. Though I have never feared anything human, yet, among things divine, I have always had a dread of Fortune; and, because, in the course of this war she had prospered all my undertakings, I did expect that some tempest would follow so favourable a gale. In one day I passed the Ionian Sea: thence, in five days, I reached Delphi, and sacrificed to Apollo. Within five days more, I assumed the command of the army in Macedon: I proceeded to action, and, in the space of fifteen days, I gloriously terminated the war. Fearful that Fortune, after such success, would visit me with some reverse, and, being free from all danger with respect to the enemy, I began to be apprehensive of danger on my passage home. But, I arrived safe among my countrymen, and beheld the city full of of joy, festivity, and gratitude. Still I suspected that some misery hung over me, knowing that Fortune grants us no considerable favour without some mixture of uneasiness or infliction of pain. Full of anxious thoughts lest some evil might befal the commonwealth, my fears did not quit me till this calamity visited my house: till I had to bury my two sons, on the very days sacred to triumph. Thus has the man who led the triumph, exhibited as impressive an instance of the weakness of human power, as he who was led captive: with this difference only, that the sons of the vanquished are alive, and those of the conqueror are no more.

Plutarch states that there was not a man in Rome who did not sympathize with AEmilius in his affliction. And yet these Romans, who were thus distressed by the affliction of their general, had little sympathy for the sufferings of their conquered foes for the families of those who had been slain in their battles; for the hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants of Epirus, who had been dragged from their homes, and sold as slaves by this same AEmilius.

After this, AEmilius, though be attached himself to the nobility, contrived to retain also the esteem of the population. Among other honours, the Romans conferred upon him the censorship, which he held till his death. This took place suddenly, in the sixty-eighth year of his age, and about one hundred and seven years before the Christian era.

Notwithstanding the immense sums which this illustrious Roman brought into the treasury, be accumulated no wealth for himself, but died so poor, that a considerable part of his effects were sold, for the purpose of paying the jointure of his widow; and the expenses of his funeral were defrayed out of the public treasury.

Had AEmilius either been born in a more virtuous age, or been possessed of sufficient strength of mind to have resisted the wickedness of his countrymen, his character might have been truly glorious. But, though himself benevolent, he had the weakness to be overruled, in his conduct, by men of merciless character; and, in some instances, as we have seen, to become even the instrument of their cruelty.

Connected with the history of AEmilius, we have had to contemplate one of those reverses of fortune, to which, more particularly, in the unsettled state of governments at this period, the great were subject. Perseus, the king of Macedon, died in captivity: one of his sons, earned his living by following the trade of a working toyman, and another was clerk in one of the public offices at Rome. Thus terminated the royal house of Macedon, only one hundred and sixty years after the death of Alexander the Great; the man, for whose ambition the whole earth seemed not to afford a space sufficiently ample. Let us not, however, forget that, even in the severity of punishment, inflicted upon Perseus, the dispensations of Providence were strongly manifested. His dreadful crimes, particularly his numerous murders, were now visited upon himself; and whatever he may have suffered, in the deprivation of his kingdom, or even in the miseries of his dungeon, his conscience must have convinced him that his punishment, at least, was equitable.

Authorities-Plutarch, Livy, and Diodorus Siculus.