Lepĭdus
1.
Lucius Aemilius Paulus, brother of M. Lepidus, the triumvir. His
surname of Paulus was probably given him by his father, in honour of the celebrated Aemilius
Paulus, the conqueror of Macedonia; but since he belonged to the family of the Lepidi, and
not to that of the Pauli, he is mentioned in this place and not under the title
Paulus. Aemilius Paulus commenced his public career by
supporting the aristocratic party. His first public act was the accusation of Catiline in
B.C. 63. He was quaestor in Macedonia in 59; aedile, 55; praetor, 53; and consul, 50, with M.
Claudius Marcellus. Paulus was raised to the consulship, on account of his being one of the
most determined enemies of Caesar, but Caesar gained him over to his side by a bribe of 1500
talents, which he is said to have expended on the completion of a magnificent basilica
commenced by him in his aedileship. After the murder of Caesar (B.C. 44), Paulus joined the
senatorial party. He was one of the senators who declared M. Lepidus a public enemy, on
account of his having joined Antony; and, accordingly, when the Second Triumvirate was
formed, his name was set down first in the proscription list by his own brother. The
soldiers, however, who had been ordered to kill him, allowed him to escape. He passed over to
Brutus in Asia, and after the death of the latter repaired to Miletus, where he remained, and
refused to go to Rome, although he was pardoned by the triumvirs.
2.
M. Aemilius, the triumvir, son of the M. Lepidus, consul B.C. 78,
who took up arms to rescind the laws of Sulla , but was defeated by Pompey and Catulus. The
son was praetor in 49, and supported Caesar in the Civil War. In 46 he was consul with
Caesar, and in 44 he received from the latter the government of Narbonese Gaul and Nearer
Spain. He was in the neighbourhood of Rome at the time of the dictator's death; and having
the command of an army, he was able to render M. Antony efficient assistance. Lepidus was now
chosen pontifex maximus, which dignity had become vacant by Caesar's death, and then repaired
to his provinces of Gaul and Spain. Antony, after his defeat at Mutina (B.C. 43), fled to
Lepidus, who espoused his cause against the Senate. They crossed the Alps at the head of a
powerful army, and were joined in the north of Italy by Octavian (afterwards Augustus). In
the month of October the celebrated Second Triumvirate was formed, by which the Roman world
was divided between Augustus, Antony, and Lepidus. In the fresh division of the provinces
after the battle of Philippi (B.C. 42), Lepidus received Africa, where he remained till 36.
In this year Augustus 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. He was easily subdued by Augustus, who spared his life,
but deprived him of his triumvirate, his army, and his provinces; and commanded that he
should live at
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Lepidus, the Triumvir. (Duruy.)
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Circeii, under strict surveillance. He allowed him, however, to retain the office
of pontifex maximus. He was not privy to the conspiracy which his son formed to assassinate
Augustus in 30. He died in 13. Augustus succeeded him as pontifex maximus.
