Aemilius Paulus
also known as
Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus
229 B.C.- 160 B.C

Aemilius Paulus Macedonicus was the son of the consul Aemilius Paulus who died at Cannae. He was a well educated patrician, fluent in Greek, and like his colleague Flamininus, very respectful of Greek culture. He was a competent general who had won victories in Italy against the Ligurians, but became really distinguished in 168 B.C. when he lead the Romans against Perseus, the King of Macedonia at Pydna in 168 B.C. The Romans had beaten Perseus's father, Philip V. of Macedonia, but had allowed him to keep his crown, as an ally of Rome. Perseus, joining with some cities in Greece, had rebelled. The Roman victory at Pydna permanently destroyed the power of Macedonia, and put all of Greece firmly under Roman control.

Aemilius is most well known for his spectacular triumph, one of the greatest Rome had ever seen. Ironically, however, two of the conqueror's young sons died within a month of his great triumph. Aemilius was a friend of the Greco-Roman historian Polybius.