Aemilius
Aemilius (fem.
Aemilia) was the
nomen of the
gens Aemilia, one of the five most important
patrician families (
gentes maiores) of
ancient Rome.
The Aemilii were a very old clan; they were supposed to have descended from Mamercus, a son of Pythagoras who was surnamed "Aemylos" or "Aimilios" because of his refinement and speaking ability. Another version quoted by Plutarch said that Mamercus was a son of King Numa Pompilius, Numa being an admirer of Pythagoras and so naming a son after Pythagoras' son. (However, the similarity of the name "Aemilius" and the Greek word aimilios is most likely just a coincidence.)
The branches of the Aemilii were Barbula, Buca, Lepidus, Mamercus, Papus, Paullus, Regilus and Scaurus. Of these, the Aemilii Lepidi had the most notable Romans, especially at the end of the Republic.
The family lent its name to the road Via Aemilia, and the Basilica Aemilia in Rome.
- Marcus Aemilius Aemilianus - emperor
- Aemilius Asper - commentator
- Blossius Aemilius Dracontius - poet and rhetor
- Manius Aemilius Lepidus - consul
- Marcus Aemilius Lepidus - five
- Lucius Aemilius Paullus - three consuls
- Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus - general
- Aemilius Macer - poet
- Marcus Aemilius Scaurus - several, including a princeps senatus
- Aemilius Papinianus - jurist
- Aemilius Lepidus Paullus - consul
- Lucius Aemilius Regillus - praetor
- Lucius Aemilius Mam.f. Mamercinus (Mamercus), consul 484, 478, 473 BC
- Ti. Aemilius L.f. Mamercinus (Mamercus), consul 467 BC
- Manius Aemilius Mam.f. Mamercinus, consul 410 BC
- M. Aemilius and C. Aemilius, consular tribunes 390 BC
- L. Aemilius, consular tribune 388 BC and later
- L. (Lucius or/and Marcus) Aemilius L.f. Mamercinus (Mamercus), consul 366, 363 BC
- L. Aemilius Mamercinus Privernas, consul 341, 329 BC
- Ti. Aemilius Mamercinus, consul 339 BC
- Q. Aemilius (Aulius) Q.f. Cerretanus, 323 BC
- Q. Aemilius Q.f. Barbula, consul 317 BC
Reference