Marcus Aemilius Scaurus
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Marcus Amilius Scaurus is the name of several ancient Romans.
The Princeps Senatus
Marcus Aemilius Scaurus (born circa 163 BC – died 88 BC) was a Roman politician. He was considered one of the most talented and influential politicians of his day.
Scaurus was born in a patrician family, although impoverished. In order to maintain the family lifestyle, his father became a coal-dealer. However, Scaurus himself declined any commercial activities (forbidden for senators) and embarked in a political life. Scaurus’ cursus honorum started when he became a military tribune in the Hispania provinces. Then he became curule aedile in charge of the public games, and afterwards praetor. He was elected consul in 115 BC with Marcus Caecilius Metellus as his junior colleague. In the same year he was nominated princeps senatus by the censors in office (Lucius Caecilius Metellus Diadematus and Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus). As leader of the Roman senate he was often sent abroad to settle disputes amongst foreign kings. In 109 BC, he was elected censor in partnership with Marcus Livius Drusus, who died in the next year putting an end to the censorship. As censor, he ordered the construction of the Via Aemilia Scaura and restored several bridges. In 104 BC, he became responsible for Rome's grain supply. This was a very important office, given only to the most trustworthy persons, because the happiness of the population (and absence of mutinies) depended on it. Scaurus was throughout his political career the leader of the aristocratic conservative faction of the senate.
His second wife was Caecilia Metella Dalmatica who was later the third wife of Lucius Cornelius Sulla. From this marriage, he had two children:
- Aemilia Scaura, second wife of Pompey
- Marcus Aemilius Scaurus
The soldier
Image:Denarius - Aemilius Scaurus - Aretas.jpg
Marcus Aemilius Scaurus was a Roman politician of the 1st century BC and son of the above.
Scaurus lost his father very young, but his education was insured by several family friends. Pompey the Great was briefly married to his sister Aemilia Scaura and, even after her death, he continued to take personal interest on the young man.
During the Third Mithridatic War, Pompey asked for Scaurus by name to become his military tribune, and charged Scaurus, at the time quaestor with the responsibility for the Judea region. The area was involved in a bloody civil war between the brothers Hyrcanus and Aristobulus. Caught in a siege by the Nabatean king Aretas III, Aristobulus asked for Pompey's intervention through Scaurus, and offered an enormous bribe. After Scaurus convinced Aretas to end the siege (64 BC), Aristobulus accused Scaurus of the extortion of 1000 talents, but Pompey, who trusted his brother in law, decided to give Judea to his opponent Hyrcanus (63 BC).
In 62 BC, when Pompey had returned to Rome, Scaurus moved war to Petra, capital of the Nabatean Kingdom, but relieved the siege after receiving a bribe of 300 talents. In 58 BC, as aedile, Scaurus organized the aedilician games, long remembered for their extravagance.
Praetor (56 BC) and propraetor (55 BC) in Sardinia, Scaurus was supported by the First Triumvirate for the consulship in 54 BC, but was accused of extortion in his province. Scaurus was defended by Cicero, and acquitted in spite of his obvious guilt. In 53 BC, however, he was accused of ambitio (shameless bribery) and went into exile.
Scaurus' death is mentioned in the Dead Sea scrolls.de:Marcus Aemilius Scaurus eu:Marko Emilio Eskauro (Minor) fr:Marcus Aemilius Scaurus la:Marcus Aemilius Scaurus (senior) nl:Marcus Aemilius Scaurus