Papinian

Aemilius Papinianus (; ; 142 CE–212 CE), simply rendered as Papinian in English, was a celebrated Roman jurist, magister libellorum, attorney general (advocatus fisci) and, after the death of Gaius Fulvius Plautianus in 205 CE, praetorian prefect.

Papinian was one of the most revered jurists in ancient Rome, as third year law students were given the title "Papinianistae" (meaning "they that are worthy to study Papinian"). In his time, he had been called "the Asylum of Right and Treasurer of the Laws". who was a member of the Emesene dynasty.

One source shows him as a follower of the casuistry of Quintus Cervidius Scaevola, another shows him to have been his pupil. A concurring (but dubious) passage in the Augustan History claims that he studied law with Severus under Scaevola.

Papinian was an intimate friend of Emperor Severus and accompanied him to Britain during 207 CE, where he served in "the forum of York" in response to an uprising by Scottish Highlanders. He was at some time made an attorney general (advocatus fisci), master of petitions (requests), magister libellorum, by Severus. Before the emperor's death, he commended his two sons Caracalla and Geta into the lawyer's charge.

Death

Sharing in the governorship of the Roman Empire with Geta proved unsatisfactory for Caracalla, who decided at some time to usurp his brother. Papinian, trying to keep peace between the brothers, only proved to encourage the hatred of Caracalla, who ordered Papinian to be beheaded (Spartianus, Caracalla), His death followed the 212 CE fratricide of Geta, amongst the general slaughter of his friends and those perceived associated with him, according to one source estimated as 20,000 persons. Responsa (written sometime between 204 CE and his death); two books, and De adulteriis, and other works, the shortest of these being Αστυνόμικος (City-Administration) which was a manual on the duties for commissioners of streets and bridges.