And there were 25...

Before I begin with the background and history of the Scipiones, I thought it would be a good idea to start with who they are and very shortly what they have done. So this will be a boring summary of all the 25 Scipiones (males only!) we know of in the period 298-50 BC. I will start with the oldest Scipio and go upwards through history and end with the latest one around 50BC. As always, I will skip the name Cornelius (as all Scipiones used this name). The underlined names are the ones I will use in this blog. The summary below will be short.

More information about the deeds of these men will follow later.

1. Scipio Barbatus : Lucius Scipio Barbatus is the first known Scipio who actually used the Scipio name in history. He was consul in the year 298. His sarcophagus and eulogium are known. This sarcophagus can be seen in the Vatican Museum.
2. Cn. Scipio Asina : Gnaeus Scipio Asina is a son of Scipio Barbatus. He was consul in 260 and again in 254. His nick-name Asina means 'ass' (in the female form).
3. L. Scipio (cos. 259) : Lucius Scipio is a son of Scipio Barbatus. He was consul in 259. His sarcophagus and eulogium are also known.
4. P. Scipio Asina : Publius Scipio Asina is a son of Cn. Scipio Asina. He was consul in 221.
5. Scipio Calvus : Gnaeus Scipio Calvus is a son of L. Scipio (cos. 259). He was consul in 222. He went with his brother to Spain to fight the Carthaginians and died there in 211.
6. P. Scipio (cos. 211) : Publius Scipio is a son of L. Scipio (cos. 259). He was consul in 218. He had the first (not very successful) encounters with Hannibal in the south of France and the Po-valley. He went with his brother (and army) to Spain to fight the Carthaginians and also died there in 211.
7. Scipio Africanus : Publius Scipio Africanus major is a son of P. Scipio (cos. 211) and was consul in 205 and 194. He defeated Hannibal at Zama (North-Africa) in the Second Punic War and received the nick-name Africanus. He is by far the best known Scipio.
8. Scipio Nasica sr. : Publius Scipio Nasica (sr.) is a son of Scipio Calvus and was consul in 191.
9. Scipio Asiagenus : Lucius Scipio Asiagenus is a son of P. Scipio (cos. 211). He was consul in 190. He lost the 191 election of his nephew. He defeated Antiochus the Great in nowadays Turkey. That's why he wears the nick-name Asiagenus.
10. Scipio Hispallus : Gnaeus Scipio Hispallus is a son of Scipio Calvus and was consul in 176.
11. L. Scipio Afr.f. : Lucius Scipio was a son of Scipio Africanus. He was elected praetor in 174 and never fulfilled the post of consul.
12. P. Scipio Afr.f. : Publius Scipio was a son of Scipio Africanus. He never fulfilled a political position. Cicero writes that he was an excellent speaker and writer. He is best known as the (adoptive) father of Scipio Aemilianus.
13. L. Scipio (quest. 167): Lucius Scipio was a son of Scipio Asiaticus. He only reached the position of questor in 167.
14. Scipio Nasica Corculum : Publius Scipio Nasica Corculum is a son of Scipio Nasica sr. He was elected consul in 155.
15. Scipio Hispanus : Gnaeus Scipio Hispanus is a son of Scipio Hispallus. He was praetor in 139 and never reached the position of consul.
16. Scipio Nasica Serapio sr. : Publius Scipio Nasica Serapio sr. is a son of Scipio Nasica Corculum. He was elected consul in 138.
17. Scipio Aemilianus : Publius Scipio Aemilianus Africanus minor is the adoptive son of P. Scipio Afr.f. He was born as an Aemilius. He was elected consul in 147 and 134.He defeated Carthage in the Third Punic War (149-146) and demolished the city.
18. L. Scipio L.f. : Lucius Scipio is a son of L. Scipio (quest. 167).
19. Scipio Comatus : Of this Scipio his first name is not known. He is a son of L. Scipio (quest. 167). His first name would probably have been Publius, as his brother is named Lucius (and Publius and Lucius are mainly used by the Scipiones). He is only known through his sarcophagus and eulogium. He died young.
20. Scipio Nasica Serapio jr. : Publius Scipio Nasica Serapio jr. is a son of Scipio Nasica Serapio sr. He was elected consul in 111.
21. Scipio Nasica jr. : Publius Scipio Nasica jr. is a son of Scipio Nasica Serapio jr. He was elected praetor in 93 and never reached the position of consul.
22. Scipio Asiaticus : Lucius Scipio Asiaticus is a son of L. Scipio and a grandson of L. Scipio (quest. 167). He was elected consul in 83. During the civil war with Sulla, he was placed on the proscription list. He fled to Marseille and died there.
23. L. Scipio Asiaticus.f. : Lucius Scipio is a son of Scipio Asiaticus. He fled with his father to Marseille. As far as we know, he never fulfilled any political position.
24. Metellus Scipio : Q. Caecilius Metellus Pius Scipio is a son of Scipio Nasica jr. and adopted by Q. Caecilius Metellus. He was elected consul in 52. Through his adoption he is no longer an (official and legal) part of the Scipiones.
25. Crassus Scipio : Lucius Licinius Crassus Scipio is a son of Scipio Nasica jr. and adopted by his maternal grandfather L. Licinius Crassus. He died before he could fulfil any political position.