Scipio (redirected from Scipiones)

Scipio (sĭp`ēō), ancient Roman family of the Cornelian gens. They were patricians. During the 3d and 2d cent. B.C. they were distinguished by their love of Greek culture and learning. Their wealth and extravagance were detested by the family of Cato the Elder, who worked hard to ruin them.

Cnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus, d. 211 B.C., consul in 222, was sent to Spain (218) to destroy the supply lines of Hannibal, who was invading Italy. He and his brother Publius defeated Hasdrubal (215) and captured Saguntum (212). They were killed in separate engagements.

Publius Cornelius Scipio, d. c.211 B.C., brother of Calvus, was consul in 218. He tried vainly to intercept Hannibal in Gaul, then rushed back to Italy, where he failed to hold the enemy at the Ticino River. He fought (against his judgment) at Trebbia, where Hannibal won (218) his great victory. The next year he joined Calvus in Spain. Publius was the father of the conqueror of Hannibal, Scipio Africanus Major. Africanus Major's wife was the sister of Aemilius Paullus, his daughter Cornelia was the mother of the Gracchi, and his eldest son was the adoptive father of Scipio Africanus Minor. Africanus Minor was the son of Aemilius Paullus.

Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Serapio, d. c.132 B.C., consul in 138, and pontifex maximus, was a son of Africanus Major's daughter; despite the family connections he led the mob of senators that murdered Tiberius Gracchus. He left Rome to escape popular hatred. A descendant of Nasica Serapio was adopted by Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius (see under Metellus) and named

Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio, d. 46 B.C. He early became a leader of the senatorial conservatives and was allied with Pompey from 53 B.C., when he ran against Milo for the consulship. In 52, Pompey made Scipio his colleague in the consulship, and Scipio threw all his influence against Julius Caesar. He backed the measure in the senate of 49, designed to wrest the army from Caesar. In 49 B.C.–48 B.C. he was governor of Syria, where he displayed a rapacity unusual even in the Roman Empire. He commanded the center at Pharsalus and fled after the battle to Africa. He fought Caesar and lost at Thapsus and took to the sea to escape. He was met by a fleet under one of Caesar's lieutenants, and, foreseeing capture, he stabbed himself.

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Scipio

1. full name Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Major. 237--183 bc, Roman general. He commanded the Roman invasion of Carthage in the Second Punic War, defeating Hannibal at Zama (202)

2. full name Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus Africanus Minor. ?185--129 bc, Roman statesman and general; the grandson by adoption of Scipio Africanus Major. He commanded an army against Carthage in the last Punic War and razed the city to the ground (146). He became the leader (132) of the opposition in Rome to popular reforms

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Scipio

Gil Blas’ secretary; shares his imprisonment. [Fr. Lit.: Gil Blas]

See : Loyalty

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Scipio

in ancient Rome, a branch of the patrician Cornelius family that produced several prominent military commanders and statesmen.

Scipio Africanus (Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus, known as Scipio the Elder). Born circa 235 B.C.; died circa 183 B.C. General in the Second Punic War.

As a military tribune, Scipio fought at Cannae in 216 B.C. He became aedilis curulis in 213 B.C. In 207 B.C. he defeated the Carthaginian commander Hasdrubal in Spain. In 205 B.C. he was elected consul. He defeated Hannibal’s army near Zama in 202 B.C.

Scipio played a prominent role in Roman politics. He became censor and princeps senatus in 199 B.C and was again elected consul in 194 B.C. A well-educated man, he favored Greek culture.

Scipio Asiaticus (Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus). Brother of Scipio Africanus.

Scipio Asiaticus became consul in 190 B.C He defeated the Seleucid king Antiochus III in the battle of Magnesia in 190 B.C

Scipio Aemilianus Africanus (Publius Cornelius Scipio Aemilianus Africanus, known as Scipio the Younger). Born circa 185 B.C.; died 129 B.C. Military commander and statesman; adopted grandson of Scipio Africanus.

In 146 B.C., while serving as consul, Scipio Aemilianus Africa nus captured Carthage and razed it to the ground, ending the Third Punic War. In 133 B.C., again serving as consul, he crushed the rebellion of Numantia in Spain. Despite family ties, Scipio was hostile to the agrarian reforms of the Gracchi. Scipio is traditionally depicted as an avid admirer of Greek culture; he organized the Scipionic Circle, a group of writers that sought to promote the adoption of Greek learning and art in Rome. He is said to have supported strengthening the state by distributing state lands to Italici who lived as tenant farmers.