Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus – strict strategist who subjugated Macedonia

Lucius Aemilius Paullus Macedonicus (ca. 228 – 160 BCE), an outstanding Roman commander and consul, made history thanks to his victory over Macedon at the Battle of Pydna in 168 BCE. He ended the Third Macedonian War and suppressed the power of Macedonia once and for all. His achievements were so important that he received the nickname Macedonicus, becoming a permanent part of the history of the empire.

Lucius Aemilius Paulus, however, was known for his military triumphs and severity, which became a symbol of the Roman military ethos. The work of Valerius Maximus (Facta et Dicta Memorabilia, 2.7.14) describes how Paulus used strict discipline. One of the most drastic examples was the crushing of the bodies of deserters by elephants – this punishment, although terrifying, was intended to demonstrate that insubordination had no place in the Roman army.