Julius Paulus Prudentissimus

Julius Paulus Prudentissimus (Greek: Ἰούλιος Παῦλος; fl. 2nd century and 3rd century AD) was one of the most influential and distinguished Roman jurists. He was also a praetorian prefect under the Roman Emperor Alexander Severus.

Little is known of the life and family of Paulus. Paulus was a man of Greek descent, who originated from an unknown Phoenician town or from Patavium (modern Padua Italy). The possibility that Paulus could come from Patavium is based on a statue with an inscription found in Patavium dedicated to a Paulus.

During the reign of emperors Septimius Severus and Caracalla, Paulus served as a jurist. He was exiled by the emperor Elagabalus and recalled from exile by his successor, emperor Alexander Severus. Severus and his mother Julia Avita Mamaea in 222, appointed Paulus among the emperor’s chief advisers and between 228 and 235, Paulus was the Praetorian prefect of the Praetorian Guard. Paulus was a contemporary of the jurist Ulpian. Paulus partly followed the career path of former Praetorian prefect Aemilius Papinianus. Due to his cautious politic nature and opinion, the emperor Gordian III, awarded him the honorific title of Prudentissimus.

The Roman jurist Herennius Modestinus, describes Paulus along with Ulpian and Quintus Cervidius Scaevola, as among ‘the last of the great jurists’. Paulus’ work was held in high respect.

Paulus had written 319 various legal publications. His surviving works are extremely prolific. Paulus’ works display a keen analysis of other opinions of jurists and Paulus expressed his legal views. He appears to have written a great variety on legal subjects and had a thorough knowledge of legal subjects and law.

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